Man held for using fake bills in Makati

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities have warned the public against fake peso bills following the arrest of a man who used counterfeit money to buy goods in Makati.

Police nabbed Thom Pinzon, 31, after he was caught using a fake P500 bill to buy pastries from a bakeshop at a mall in Barangay Poblacion.

Probers said Pinzon had earlier attempted to buy from a doughnut shop using the same counterfeit bill, but was shown the door after the cashier flashed it with an ultraviolet fake note detector.

The suspect reportedly managed to buy pastries from the next-door bakeshop, but was spotted by the employee from the other store whom he tried to defraud.

The employee then told the cashier and the security guard that they had been duped.

“The cashier of the doughnut shop confirmed that it was the same bill that the suspect tried to use at the store. Using an ultraviolet detector, they found that the money is fake,” police said.

Pinzon was detained at the Poblacion police sub-station on charges of illegal possession and use of fake bank notes under the Revised Penal Code.

Police asked the public to immediately report persons who are using counterfeit money.