POLICE WARNED the public against the proliferation of counterfeit peso bills following the separate arrest of two persons in Cebu City for manufacturing and in possession of fake P500 and P1000 bills.
The duo, Ivan Noval Luardo
and Joseph Mercado Salas, were arrested by the members of the Banko Sentral ng
Philippines and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for illegal
possession and use of false treasury or banknotes.
Seized from the suspects were
P112,000 worth of counterfeit peso bills from the suspects.
“I instructed the CIDG and
other unit commanders to step up intelligence-gathering and operations, in
coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, to ensure that those who
benefit from this modus will not be given the opportunity to victimize our
kababayans,” said National Police Chief, General Guillermo Eleazar.
He also urged the public to
familiarize themselves with the security features of genuine peso bills to
avoid falling prey to the use of fake banknotes.
“Maaaring
kulong ang sapitin ng sinomang magtatangkang gumamit ng pekeng pera sa anumang
transaksyon. Agad ninyong idulog sa pinakamalapit na police station o kaya’y i-report sa ating PNP
E-Sumbong platforms kung kayo ay nabiktima o napasahan ng counterfeit na pera para agad
ay magawan namin ng kaukulang aksyon at mahuli ang gumagawa nito,”
Eleazar said.
Police did not provide other
details on the background of those arrested or whether they are members of a
syndicate. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)
