Fake dollars, checks seized in Manila raid

Police seized several counterfeit US dollars and checks from various government agencies during a raid at a printing shop in Manila last Monday, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Arturo Lomibao, head of the CIDG, said operations were conducted as part of the their extensive effort against transnational crimes, including manufacture of fake dollar bills, bank checks and other commercial documents.

Lomibao said elements of the CIDG Commuter Crime Unit raided last Tuesday a printing press located along Recto Avenue in Manila following reports that it was engaged in defrauding several victims of thousands of pesos.

The raid resulted in the confiscation of eight pieces of counterfeit $100 dollar bills, 23 fake pension and lumpsum checks for the Social Services System (SSS), 30 blank police loan checks from the Government Services Insurance System (GSIS), 31 fake Department of Education (DepEd) blank payroll checks, 19 fake Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) checks and four Artist Record Books.

The police also confiscated three computer units, an HP 750 printer, an ethernet hub, a scanner and other computer accessories.

Lomibao urged victims of the syndicate to come out and file criminal charges against the printing press owner identified as Baby Torres, who remains at large. He was not in the area during the raid. Prior to last Tuesday’s operations, CIDG operatives were able to buy an SSS check. – Christina Mendez