Fake P500 bills featuring Roxas circulate at House

MANILA, Philippines - Envelopes containing fake P500 bills with the face of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II circulated at the House of Representatives press office yesterday.

Allies of Roxas slammed what they said was black propaganda against the Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer for the 2016 elections.

The counterfeit bills with Roxas’ picture accompanied by a note, “Ibulsa ang pera, iboto ang kursonada (pocket the money, vote your choice),” were sent to House reporters.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Barry Gutierrez said political opponents should be circumspect and honorable in waging their campaign against Roxas.

He said he believes it was an attempt to tarnish Roxas’ image.

“While Secretary Roxas has often been the target of unfair attacks from those opposed to daang matuwid (straight path), this latest attempt to malign his name marks a new low,” Gutierrez said.

“Obviously, it is a desperate ploy to attempt to tarnish the good name of Mar Roxas, a man who, in over two decades of public service, has not once been linked to even the barest hint of impropriety or corruption,” he said.

“And while I am confident that media and the public will see it for what it is – an absurd fabrication – it is unfortunate, though not surprising, that this early, his opponents are willing to stoop to this level,” he added.

He said the ploy showed that Roxas’ opponents were afraid of him.

You Against Poverty and Corruption party-list Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez said it has become evident that Roxas’ opponents are resorting to black propaganda “because they’re feeling his strength in the campaign. Otherwise why else would they do that?”

Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez described the sending of fake bills as “a cheap operation coming from an inexperienced principal.”

“I know they are beginning to feel Roxas’ strength, which is starting to trickle down to the grassroots level. His confidence and old charisma with the people that has been sidelined for a time are back. I expect more of this in the days to come but I am confident this negative attack will not stick,” Fernandez said.

For his part, Roxas said the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) should probe the proliferation of counterfeit P500 bills with his picture. 

“Obviously it’s fake. The police and the NBI should look into this,” he said.

Counterfeit P500 bills with Roxas’ face circulated on Facebook, with the caption “salapi pa more” (more money).

Without naming names, Roxas said he believes the black propaganda was the handiwork of his opponents.

Mar meets with NPC

Roxas met with members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) at the party’s headquarters in New Manila, Quezon City Tuesday night.

Roxas’ meeting with the NPC started at around 7 p.m. and lasted for several hours and was attended by 30 members of the country’s second largest political party headed by tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.

NPC spokesman and Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga said they initiated the meeting to listen to Roxas’ plans and programs for the country in 2016.

Earlier, NPC officials met with Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Grace Poe.

Enverga said the party has yet to choose the best presidential candidate for the 2016 polls. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe