Charges for faking public docs readied vs. teacher

CEBU – The National Bureau of Investigation is preparing a criminal case for falsification of public documents against a night high school teacher in barangay Lipata, Minglanilla following his arrest during an entrapment operation last week for manufacturing bogus diploma and notarizing documents without authority.

Lipata Night High School teacher Alfredo Tinga may have already been released from NBI custody but the case will be filed against him, said lawyer Bernard de la Cruz.

De la Cruz said Tinga was released temporarily because of the lapse of the reglementary period to file the case. He explained that the case for falsification of public documents was not filed immediately because he was waiting for the certification from the Department of Education to prove that the suspect was indeed a public school teacher.

Nevertheless, de la Cruz said the case will be filed next week before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas as soon as the certification is issued by the DepEd.

Tinga was arrested Tuesday last week by the NBI operatives for manufacturing fake diploma. The arrest stemmed from a confidential letter addressed to NBI regional director Medardo de Lemos complaining of his alleged illegal activities.

An undercover agent conducted surveillance operations by asking Tinga to make a diploma for him. In the afternoon of November 10, the agent went to Tinga’s makeshift stall in front of a university on P. Lopez Street to ask him to make a diploma of the Bulasa National High School.

Tinga allegedly offered that it would be easier for him to make a diploma of the Mandaue Academy for P800. — Fred P. Languido/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)