ILOILO City – Beware of counterfeit peso bills circulating in public markets and malls, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 warned the public on Thursday.
This after authorities confiscated more than 50 pieces of fake P500 bills from a man in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro district.
The suspect was identified as 20-year-old Edmond dela Torre. He was nabbed for illegal possession and use of false treasury or bank notes on Nov. 4.
Prior to his arrest, police investigators said De la Torre bought several sticks of cigarettes and a bottle of liquor at a sari-sari store in the said village.
The store owner did not notice that was handed to him was counterfeit money. The suspect even got P205 change for the items.
A few hours later, Dela Torre went back to the same store and bought several sticks of cigarettes, a bottle of liquor and ice cubes using a fake P500 bill anew.
But during the inventory, the store owner suspected that the two P500 bills were fake.
The assistance of barangay officials of Barangay San Isidro was sought to track down Dela Torre. The suspect was caught with 54 pieces of fake P500 bills in his possession. He was detained in the lockup cell of Police Station 3.
The PRO-6 encourages reporting similar incidents to help them catch those who are circulating these counterfeits. (With a report from RPIO-Visayas/PN)
