CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) is warning the public on the possible proliferation of counterfeit bills within the holiday season.
CPPO Director, Sr. Supt. Noel Gillamac said that the public, as well as store owners and mall operators, must be vigilant in receiving bills as the production of fake money may increase.
“First line of defense gyud ang pag-detect sa kwarta,†Gillamac told The FREEMAN.
Last Wednesday evening, two men were arrested for using a P1,000 fake bill in a gasoline station at Barangay Poblacion, Alcantara.
Felicidario Pulgo, 36, and Helbert Macallan, 20, both from Barangay Vibe, Ronda, reportedly paid a P1,000 fake bill to Junmar Yosores, the cashier of a gasoline station, who noticed the counterfeit money.
Yosores immediately called up the police station which resulted to the arrest of the two men, who are now detained pending the filing of appropriate charges.
Gillamac advised that if anybody has counterfeit money, they should immediately surrender it to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
“If they attempt nga ipalit kay sayangan lagi, dako ang posibilidad nga sila ang madakpan,†he said.
Cebu City Intelligence Branch chief Romeo Santander backed the call of CPPO to the public not to keep with them fake bills.
“We were informed that manufacturers of fake bills will take advantage this Christmas,†said Santander, suspecting that a syndicate is behind this illegal activity.
The police earlier said that the proliferation of fake bills would reduce with the arrest of Richard Uy in Barangay Kamagayan last July. But Uy, who has been arrested twice, posted bail after he was seized with at least P3 million worth of fake peso and dollar bills as well as machines and other equipment in making counterfeit money.
The CIB chief said they are now monitoring places in the city where previous raids against counterfeit money were carried out.
Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered for a 24-hour monitoring task force to heighten the security in downtown area.
The task force will be assigned in the streets of Mabini, Colon, Sanciangko, Juan Luna, Pelaez and Leon Kilat.
According to Rama, he feels the need to put up a task force since he noticed that these areas tend to be complacent on the laws during night time.
“Kanang hugaw, kanang inig agi nako gikan diri sa City padung Juan Luna, kanang mawa ang balaod inig gabie makalimot ang taw nya way mamadlong,†Rama stressed.
George Chu, Downtown Revitalization Project president said that the downtown area is one of their priorities being part of their cleanliness and peacefulness project.
He added that there is really a need to study more about the downtown area or else it would be left behind by the continuous development of the South Road Properties (SRP) and North Reclamation Area. (BANAT NEWS)