Napolcom warns against fake pension checks

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) issued a warning yesterday against the proliferation of fake pension checks reportedly bearing the signature of former Philippine National Police chief Director General now Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Napolcom vice chairman Rogelio Pureza issued the warning following complaints reaching his office from establishments in Baguio City that received the fake checks.

The checks were issued in favor of six alleged policemen bearing the names SPO1 Eduardo Bautista Velasco, Romeo Collado Tadeo, Noli Reyes Perez, SPO2 Rolando Santos Asia and Daniel Castro Abad.

Pureza noted that the value of the checks ranged from P4,700 to P4,900 to be withdrawn from the Land Bank of the Philippines.

At least two establishments in Baguio City accepted the checks made out to Velasco and Tadeo.

When the storeowners presented the checks to a Land Bank branch in Burnham Park, they were not honored because the two payees were not legitimate policemen.

An examination conducted on the checks revealed that the signature of Lacson was fake.

Furthermore, the check numbers started with only two zeros in contrast to legitimate checks which carry four zeros.

Pureza pointed out that reports of the fake checks were uncovered as early as June last year.

He admitted that there is possibly a syndicate involved in the production and distribution of the said checks.

An investigation is currently being conducted within the PNP as the possibility of the culprits being members of the PNP was not discounted.

Aside from Baguio, other areas where the checks have been distributed include Iloilo and Dagupan.

The Napolcom is also currently investigating another paycheck scam within the PNP where legitimate checks are being issued to either retired or dead policemen.