3 arrested for selling fake traveler’s checks

Operatives of the Western Metro Manila Criminal Investigation and Detection Team (WMMCIDT) have arrested three people selling fake US treasury notes and traveler’s checks in Malate, Manila.

WMMCIDT chief Superintendent Michel Filart identified the suspects as Randy Lanuza, 43, of Sta. Ana, Manila; Peter Bomediano, 62, of Muntinlupa City; and Natividad Castillo, 60, of Cabanatuan City.

Seized from the suspects were 31 American traveler’s checks in $500 denomination; eight computerized printouts of bank deposit certificates, gold bullion certificates, gold certificates, insurance certificates, a certification from the US Department of Treasury, including an inventory list; a $1-million Federal Reserve Note with serial number J00352593A; a piece of Diez Mil Pesos (10,000) of unknown currency with serial number JD017499 and a dollar bill with serial number A88605599.

The suspects also yielded several bank checks in various amounts, photostat copies of US dollars in various denominations and 12 diskettes.

Two passports were also recovered from Lanuza, while Bomediano yielded eight identification cards with the names Peter Bomediano and Jonathan Abella, but with the same photos.

According to Filart, the suspects lure victims into buying fake US treasury notes and traveler’s checks at discounted prices.

A Tondo businessman had reported the group’s modus operandi, prompting Filart to assign SPO1 Robert Chua, and POs3 Vergel Navarro and Joaquin Florendo to conduct a buy-bust operation.

The cops arranged a deal with the suspects for the purchase of US traveler’s checks.

They agreed to meet at the Rajah Sulaiman Park in Malate the other day. When the suspected fake traveler’s checks were shown to the officers, the suspects were arrested.

Bomediano even tried to evade arrest by introducing himself as an employee of the Land Transportation Office. However, a verification made with the LTO revealed that he was not connected with the government agency.

A certification from the US Embassy also disclosed that the recovered traveler’s checks and dollar bills were spurious.

Filart filed charges of illegal possession of false treasury or bank notes and other instruments of credit to the three suspects, while Bomediano was charged with a separate offense of usurpation of authority or official function.