Fake money ring busted

Combined agents of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) busted over the weekend in San Mateo, Rizal, a syndicate allegedly involved in the counterfeiting of P1,000 and P500 bills.

The operation resulted in the arrest of 11 suspects and the confiscation of 497 pieces of fake P1,000 bills and 113 pieces of fake P500 bills.

Those arrested were identified by Efren Meneses, chief of the NBI’s Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division as Rogelio Sta. Maria, 55, of 2 F. Salamat St., Ampid San Mateo, Rizal; and his wife Elizabeth, 48, also of the same address.

Also arrested were Roberto Sta. Maria, Rogelio’s brother, 44; and his wife Gina, both of De Jesus St., Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City; Roger Ramos, 32, also of Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City; Felixberto Milalos, 47; and his wife Nena, both of 215 Dalandanan St., Valenzuela; June Simon, 28; and his wife Marilou, 41, both of 14 Katarungan St., Batasan Hills, Quezon City; and Jelina Villenueva, 49, also of 14 Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

According to Meneses, prior to the raid, they received information from the BSP’s Cash Department about the syndicate’s activities. Armed with the information, a surveillance operation was conducted.

Armed with a search warrant issued by Manila Judge Enrico Lanzanas, combined NBI and BSP agents swooped down on the house of the alleged mastermind.

Agents found the fake bills inside a gray Toyota Corolla with plate number UBV-467.

A BSP agent who took part in the raid said it was the third time that they have arrested the same group of suspects. He said the suspects were released on bail during their first arrests in Dagupan and Quezon. But the agent said the suspects would not be released on bail this time because of the bulk of the fake notes seized from them.

Raiding agents said the suspects used a scanner and a computer printer in faking the bills. The suspects were even able to place the hidden security markers in the fake bills.

"These bills really look authentic. They placed the hidden security features on the fake bills that they would pass under a ultra-violet inspection," said Meneses.

The NBI and the BSP are still tracking down the financier of the syndicate as well as the place were the fake bills were printed. BSP agents added that the syndicate was also involved in the printing of other fake foreign currencies like the US dollar and the Japanese Yen.

"They (suspects) refuse to identify who the financiers are and where the bills are printed," Meneses said. Charges for violation of Article 166 (forgery of bank and treasury notes) were filed against the suspects who are now detained at the NBI jail.