P3M fake bills circulating, P150K seized

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines   â€” About P3 million counterfeit bills, as confirmed by personnel of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, are now circulating in Negros Occidental, which may be used for vote-buying, police said.

Of this amount, P150,000 in fake P500 bills were turned over by a local resident to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) last Monday, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, NOPPO officer-in-charge, said.

De la Paz, warning Negrenses on counterfeit money that may be used for vote-buying, and Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. have urged the public to “report any discovery of fake bills to the police immediately.”

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, director of the Police Regional Office 6, who was in Bacolod Wednesday, said they were investigating the reported existence of fake money and those who possess these will be arrested and charged.

“We have to know if there are still more fake money circulating, because we’re certain by this time it will be used for the election,” Cruz said.

Senior Supt. Edgardo Ordaniel, acting director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) , said they have not received reports on recent circulation of fake money in the city. “But we will be vigilant. We will mobilize (our personnel) to monitor if there are fake bills circulating in our area,” he said.

Last January, operatives of the BCPO and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested two suspects possessing fake bills in separate buy-bust operations in Bacolod.

Marañon called on Negrenses to remain vigilant in the wake of Philippine National Police reports that counterfeit money, mostly P500 bills, are in circulation.

“It appears that it is the usual occurrence during election time as other candidates promise money to their supporters. Their money wells must have run out of cash,” said the re-electionist governor.

“Let us be vigilant. Let us scrutinize the money being given out in the campaign trail. But more importantly, let us not sell our votes because they are sacred. By the time you sell your vote, that’s when you get paid with fake money,” Marañon added.  (FREEMAN)