2 foreigners held over fake bills

MANILA, Philippines — Two foreigners were arrested for possession of counterfeit money in Taguig City on Friday.

Patian Achi, 40, and Marcel Wenong, 38, both citizens of Cameroon, were apprehended by police in an entrapment operation at a resort in Barangay Wawa at around 6:30 a.m., Taguig police chief Col. Robert Baesa said in a message on Viber.

Seized from the suspects were $1.3 million and P2 million in counterfeit bills, which probers believe were meant for distribution.

Baesa said they seized more fake dollar bills, a .38-caliber handgun and explosives in a follow-up operation at the suspects’ residence in Barangay Pembo in Makati City.

Police are preparing charges of violating Article 168 or the Revised Penal Code, which prohibits the possession and use of false treasury or bank notes and other instruments of credit, illegal possession of a firearm and possession of explosives.