SC affirms conviction of man caught with fake bills

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the conviction of a man arrested for possession and use of counterfeit Philippine peso bills.

In a 12-page decision penned by Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez, the SC Second Division denied the petition of Allan Gacasan to reverse the rulings of the Court of Appeals and a local court that found him guilty of violating Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code or illegal possession and use of false treasury or bank notes.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested Gacasan when he offered to sell fake peso bills to an undercover agent in a sting in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental in November 2018.

Gacasan was found in possession of 100 pieces of P1,000 and 25 pieces of P500, which the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas confirmed as counterfeit.

The SC said Gacasan’s knowledge that the bills are fake was proven when he accepted the payment when he offered to sell them.

The high court also cited Gacasan’s demand for payment in exchange for the envelope containing the fake bills he handed over to the undercover agent.

The SC did not give weight to Gacasan’s argument that he was a victim of a frame-up.

Gacasan was sentenced to eight to 10 years in prison. He was likewise ordered to pay a fine of P10,000.