A 32-YEAR-OLD man accused of circulating fake P1,000 and P500 bills in Central Visayas was arrested by agents of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in an entrapment operation in Cebu City last Thursday, PNP-CIDG director, Major General Eliseo DC Cruz reported yesterday.

Juni Dagandan Bacus yielded P71,000 worth of fake bills during a sting in Barangay San Nicolas Proper in Cebu City conducted by members of the CIDG Mandaue City Field Unit, the Regional Intelligence Unit 7 and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, said the official.

Maj. Gen. Cruz said confiscated from the suspect were a marked P1,000 bill paid to him by an undercover officer during the entrapment operation. The suspect also yielded different counterfeit P1,000 bills and P500 bills with the same serial numbers.

The suspect is facing charges for violation of Article 168 (Illegal possession and use of false treasury or banknotes and other instruments of credit) in relation to Article 166 of the Revised Penal Code.

Maj. Gen. Cruz said that last year, the CIDG Cebu and the BSP also conducted separate police operations which led to the arrest of two men found in possession of P100,000 worth of fake bills allegedly being readied during the election season.

The official added his men are still investigating the other people behind the manufacture and circulation of said counterfeit money.

“The CIDG assures the public that perpetrators of such illegal act will pay for their crime,” said the official as he reminded the public anew to familiarize themselves on how to spot a fake bills from a genuine one.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon