Teacher who moonlights as maker of fake diplomas falls to NBI

CEBU - A public high school teacher who does sidelines as manufacturer of fake diplomas and other public documents was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation during an entrapment operation last Tuesday.

Alfredo Tinga, a teacher at the Lipata Night High School in Minglanilla was caught in the act of manufacturing bogus diploma and notarizing legal documents.

The suspect claimed he does the illegal job to augment his income for his medication.

The entrapment operation stemmed from a confidential letter addressed to NBI regional director Medardo De Lemos complaining against the alleged illegal activity of Tinga.

The informant alleged that the suspect is engaged in manufacturing fake public documents prompting the NBI to conduct surveillance operations. In the afternoon of November 10, an NBI agent went to Tinga’s makeshift stall in front of a university at P. Lopez St. to inquire if he is indeed engaged in manufacturing fake diploma, transcript of records and other public and commercial documents.

During the meeting, Tinga allegedly offered the NBI undercover agent to make him a diploma for only P800. The agent requested Tinga to make him a diploma of Bulasa National High School.

However, Tinga allegedly suggested it would be easier for him to make a diploma of the Mandaue Academy, to which the undercover agent readily agreed.

The agent was made to pay P200 down payment with the remaining balance to be paid upon the completion of the diploma. With this, an entrapment was planned out that resulted to the suspect’s arrest on Tuesday afternoon.

Tinga was caught in the act of receiving the marked-money from the NBI undercover agent.

He will be charged for violation of the Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code for falsification of public documents.– Fred P. Languido/WAB (THE FREEMAN)