CEBU, Philippines - The intelligence branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office arrested a former member of the 56th Philippine Constabulary Battalion and his cousin for the alleged manufacturing and sale of fake money.
Arrested were Rogelio Oblinar, 49, a resident of Salvacion, Panabo, Davao del Norte, a former member of the 56th PC Battalion who was relieved in 1988 for being absence without official leave and Andrew Oblinar, 50, a resident of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.
A certain Allan who was with the suspects during the entrapment operation eluded arrest.
Chief Insp. Elma delos Santos said last December they received reports of a group of people allegedly selling fake bills for half that amount.
Delos Santos said they reportedly got samples of the manufactured P100 bills and brought them to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for verification. Indeed, one bill reportedly was found fake but bore the license number of a genuine bill.
Yesterday morning, the police conducted the entrapment operation at a beach resort in barangay Pooc, Talisay City and used P200,000 as marked money.
Later at the police office, the suspects even demonstrated how they manufacture the bills.
Delos Santos said the modus is to make the clients believe that the suspects have numerous resources. They would then reportedly set a venue for the formal transaction where they would show their clients the equipment they use to manufacture the fake bills. The group has allegedly been operating for two years now.
Delos Santos said there is reason to believe that the group is engaged in a large scale operation while CPPO Director Carmelo Valmoria said another possibility is that the fake money will be used for next year’s elections.
Valmoria said they will coordinate with the Central Bank on the appropriate charges to be filed against the suspects, as he called on victims to come out in the open and also file charges against the suspects.
Valmoria said they will also conduct further investigation to determine a possible financier and to find out if the operation involves people from within Central Bank. — Christopher Gabriel C. Bonjoc/JMO (THE FREEMAN)