Fake peso bills circulating in Negros, Ilocos, Isabela

MANILA, Philippines - Voters selling their votes in Negros Occidental, Ilocos Sur and Isabela may end up being paid with counterfeit bills.

In Bacolod City, a resident turned over P150,000 in fake P500 bills and police suspect that counterfeit bills amounting to P3 million may be circulating in the province to be used for vote buying.

Senior Superintendent Ricardo de Leon, acting Negros Occidental police director, urged residents to report any fake bills to authorities.

Those found in possession of these fake money will be arrested and charged, said Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz, Region 6 police director.

In Candon City, Ilocos Sur, two men were arrested after they paid a jeepney driver with a fake P500 bill. The driver, Rogelio Molina, promptly reported this to the police which, in turn, pursued the suspects, Diomedes Aquino, 42, and Ernesto Aquino, 70, who were discovered in possession of P60,000 in fake P500 bills and P20,000 in fake P100 bills.

In Tumaini, Isabela, public market security chief Arsenio Allapitan accosted a certain Alma Matas after vendors complained that she had paid them with counterfeit P500 bills. – Danny Dangcalan, Teddy Molina, Raymund Catindig