Woman carrying fake P1,000 bills arrested

A woman passenger of an Air Philippines flight bound for Cagayan de Oro City was apprehended yesterday with 197 pieces of fake P1,000 bills concealed in her bra.

Aviation Security Group chief Marcelo Ele said that the bogus currency was found on the person of Emma Lomangcolob, 38, during a physical check at the pre-departure area of the Manila Domestic Airport Terminal.

Lomangcolob, a resident of Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, was placed under arrest and investigated for violation of Article 16 of the Revised Penal Code (Possession of Fake Treasury or Bank Notes).

Ele said that Lomangcolob could be a courier of a syndicate involved in the printing of fake Philippine pesos which are being circulated in Metro Manila. He also said that the seized fake currency would be distributed in Mindanao.

Initial investigation showed that the counterfeit P1,000 bills were printed on ordinary paper, and that the method used in the manufacture of the fake bills was crude and could be detected easily, but not at night.

Meanwhile, more than 300 officials and employees of the Bureau of Immigration were reshuffled yesterday, while five key positions at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were moved as part of a nationwide reorganization aimed at streamlining procedures, deter corruption and improve performance.

Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo said the revamp was just the first phase of key personnel changes that would be initiated in the bureau within the next few days and which would be done on a regular basis every six months. NAIA General Manager Edgardo Manda said that the reshuffle of officials in key positions was designed to improve performance. – Rey Arquiza and Jaime Laude