KALIBO, Aklan – Fake bills were recovered from a man in a police buy-bust operation in this capital town.
A total of 147 counterfeit P1,000 bills were seized from the 32-year-old Jemar Magbanua Elera of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and his 40-year-old live-in partner Eubel Esposo Marcon of Cabatuan, Iloilo , police said.
Elera and Marcon were caught after they sold two fake P1,000 bills to an undercover police officer for P600 on Sept. 12.
The couple was temporarily staying along Oyo Torong Street in Barangay Bakhaw Sur where they were busted.
“Galing sa isang bayan sa Cebu ang counterfeit bills at ipinapadala sa akin sa barko. Mga three weeks pa ang operation ko [bago ako nahuli],” Elera said, adding that they already sold 130 fake P1,000 bills.
Police brought Elera and Marcon to the Kalibo municipal police station where they were currently detained.
The fake bills were turned over to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in Roxas City, Capiz for further verification.
Chief Inspector Kenneth Paniza, deputy chief of the Kalibo municipal police, said the suspects will be facing charges under Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code, or the illegal possession and use of false treasury or bank notes and other instruments of credit.
Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code states, “Any person who shall forge, import or utter, in connivance with the forgers or importers, any instrument payable to order or other document of credit not payable to bearer, shall suffer the penalties of prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods and a fine not exceeding P6,000 pesos.”
Paniza reminded the public to be vigilant and not fall as victim to the fake money scheme. (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
