MPD to keep an eye on shortchanging moneychangers

Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales has ordered his policemen to closely monitor the operations of moneychanger shops in the city after Mayor Alfredo Lim closed down 26 shops recently.

Rosales also instructed his men to “apprehend all those involved” with unscrupulous syndicates in shortchanging patrons.

The Manila police arrested six men, including a father and his two sons, caught in the act of luring prospective victims for their illegal shortchanging business in Ermita, Manila.

The operation was conducted following the arrest of Annabelle Santos, a teller of Len Money Changer along A. Mabini street in Malate, who allegedly shortchanged Maria Jasmin van Schaik by P180,000 when she had her euros changed to pesos.

Rosales said he was not impressed with Santos’ arrest, but wants all “kotong” gang members behind bars.

Senior Superintendent Pablo Francisco Balagtas, chief of the District Mobile Force (DMF), formed a team of police officers to closely monitor the activities of moneychangers, especially those perceived to be involved in shortchanging customers.

Inspector Benjamin Abad, officer-in-charge of the DMF’s Intelligence and Investigation Section, arrested the six suspects while they were allegedly calling on customers to exchange their currencies in fly-by-night moneychangers.

Abad said the suspects get commissions as high as 20 percent of the amount exchanged.

Lim personally padlocked and spray-painted the alleged illegal moneychanger shops to warn people not to patronize these establishments. – Nestor Etolle