
PNP: Beware of fake bills
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) warned the public to be wary of counterfeit money circulating in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean S. Fajardo called on the public to be wary of fake P1,000 and P500 bills that may be used by syndicates to buy goods in ‘sari-sari’ stores, public markets, small shops and shopping malls.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas also made the same appeal regarding the fraudulent notes. It encouraged anyone to report any fake banknotes to the police or the BSP’s Payments and Currency Investigation Group.
The BSP said it plans to print up to half a billion new P1,000 polymer banknotes in 2023 that will replace the P1,000 paper banknotes. Polymer banknotes are non-porous, 100% water-proof and do not easily tear.
At present, existing laws penalize people involved in money counterfeiting.
Thus, authorities have asked the public to remember the following when it comes to any bank note: Feel, Look, Tilt.
Feel because a polymer bill has a smooth texture. ‘Look’ because the polymer bill’s side with the sampaguita icon have embossed lines with the letters BSP and ‘Check’ for the bill’s metallic features that give it luster and rainbow colors.
Lastly, tilt the banknote to find the shadow thread.
Police have made arrests in connection with the distribution of fake bills.
On December 7, 2022, the Southern Police District arrested a 40-year-old woman who used a fake P1,000 bill to pay her P150 taxi fare in Taguig City.
The woman asked that she be taken to Gate 3 of Chino Roces Extension in Barangay Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City from Malibay, Pasay City.
After reaching her destination, the suspect handed over the P1,000 bill to the driver and demanded her P850 change.
However, the cabbie discovered that what she gave was a fake bill when he thoroughly examined it.
The driver returned the money to the woman who tried to exchange the bill in a nearby convenience store but was also turned down.
When she again tried to give the same bill to the cabbie, the latter refused, triggering an argument.
The driver later sought the assistance of policemen from the Taguig City Police Sub-Station 1. Then the woman was apprehended and charged.
Also in 2022, some P100,000 worth of counterfeit money were confiscated by agents of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in separate entrapment in Cebu City.
One of the suspects yielded 52 pieces of fake P1,000 bills and 70 pieces of counterfeit P500 bills worth P88,000.
Another suspect yielded P24,000 worth of fake P1,000 and P500 bills in October 2021.
In their initial inspection, BSP agents revealed the seized bills were found to be fake as they don’t have the features of a genuine bill.
The BSP also called on Filipinos to familiarize themselves with the features of the genuine ones to avoid being victimized by these illegal peddlers.
Persons arrested for the offense are charged with illegal possession and use of false treasury or banknotes and other instruments under Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code.
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda underscored the need for the citizenry to be ‘sharp-eyed’ against fake currencies this period and help authorities catch those circulating them.
In the past, authorities have complained that most victims of counterfeit notes do not report the incident and when duped, they may try to pass on the fake note to other unsuspecting persons.
Col. Fajardo issued the same reminder saying that crimes against property like theft and robbery as well as fraud and deceit usually increase during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
With Christmas Day just around the corner, Col. Fajardo asked the public to buy gifts and supplies as early as now to avoid the holiday shopping rush. She also reminded the people to only buy from legitimate sellers, even in online shops.
Officials said that fraudsters usually operate in heavily-crowded areas including flea markets or ‘tiyangges’ and slum areas where cash velocity is high.
In the past, police said many of these counterfeit bills were found to have been distributed in different parts of Metro Manila, Ilocos-Pangasinan region and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region.
Arrests have been made previously in Pasay City, Binondo, Manila, Cebu City and many parts of Mindanao.
In a sting in Pasay City three years ago, officials discovered that the counterfeit money came from Maharlika Area in Taguig City.
The suspects usually sell the fake P1,000 bills for P300 each, thus the police warning for the public to be watchful in receiving money, especially P1,000 bills in their financial transactions.
In many cases, poor taxi drivers and vendors have ended up penniless after giving change to the P1,000 bills paid to them by innocent-looking people, some of them wearing ‘Barong Tagalog’ or long-sleeved shirts.