Top Cebu police official linked to counterfeiting syndicate

CEBU - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has placed under surveillance a top Philippine National Police (PNP) official in the province whom it suspects had coddled three women from whom over P300,000 in counterfeit bills were confiscated this week.

A BSP source told The Freeman the name of the PNP officer surfaced in the investigation of the three women who were arrested last Monday.

BSP confidential agent Orlando Campomanes, however, would neither confirm nor deny the involvement of the PNP official.

"We gathered that a lawman is reportedly behind this syndicate," Campomanes said.

The BSP has already given the name of the suspect to officials of the PNP regional office for investigation.

Last Monday, the BSP arrested Perlita Menguito, 41, of Capitol Extension; Lolita Diano, 47, of Paknaan, Mandaue City; and Lourdes Panilagao, 51, of Paknaan, for possessing fake P1,000 and P500 bills.

Prosecutor Oscar Capacio recommended the filing of charges against them with the Regional Trial Court for illegal possession and use of false treasury or bank notes and other instruments of credit. The case was filed the other day.

BSP special agent Virgilio Tabasa said people involved in the spread of fake peso bills in Cebu are now being monitored.

Panilagao denied any involvement in the syndicate, saying she just went with Menguito to Mabolo when they were nabbed in the BSP test-buy operation. Menguito is reportedly the owner of the fake bills.

Diano and Panilagao were arrested inside Oca's Lechon restaurant along Juan Luna street in Mabolo and yielded 95 counterfeit P1,000 bills and two P500 bills.

In the follow-up operation on the same day, the BSP team arrested Menguito, who yielded 204 counterfeit P1,000 bills, at Ayala Center Cebu. - Freeman News Service