Man nabbed for possession of fake money

CEBU, Philippines -  A 35-year-old man was arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit bill to pay for his taxi fare in Barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City yesterday dawn.

Richie Caballero, a resident of D. Jakosalem Street, Cebu City, was apprehended by the police after he paid the taxi driver, Dante Maglasang, 40, a fake P1,000 bill.

Senior Police Officer 1 Raquel Camay, desk officer of Parian Police Station, said that Caballero together with two girls and a boy hailed the taxi of Maglasang at Cebu North Bus Terminal around 2 a.m. yesterday. When they arrived in Barangay Kamagayan, the suspect handed the fake bill to Maglasang who also gave the suspect his change before they disembarked.

Camay, however, could not specify the exact amount of the taxi fare of Caballero. It was only when Maglasang left the area that he noticed that the P1,000 bill was fake. He then reported it to Parian Police Station.

The police immediately went to Barangay Kamagayan and was able to arrest Caballero. His three companions, however, managed to escape.

When frisked, the police recovered more fake bills amounting to a total of P2,600. When interviewed by the police, Caballero refused to admit where he got the counterfeit bills.

Camay said they believed the fake bills came from Barangay Kamagayan or from A. Lopez Street. Caballero who is currently detained at Parian Police Station will face charges for violation of Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code or possession of fake money.

The Police Regional Office-7 earlier warned the public on the proliferation of counterfeit money particularly during this holiday season.  (FREEMAN)