Fake money syndicate member arrested

Police arrested a suspected member of a syndicate responsible for the proliferation of counterfeit money in the metropolis after victimizing the driver of a passenger jeepney Thursday evening in Valenzuela City.

Senior Superintendent Ranier Idio, the city police chief, identified the suspect as Montasir Racman, 29, a resident of Maharlika Village in Taguig.

Racman was arrested at around 8 p.m. in Barangay Karuhatan after paying a fake P200 bill to jeepney driver Jerry Estabillio, 37.

“The driver became suspicious when the suspect and an unidentified companion immediately alighted after they received the change,” PO3 Marlon Rosalin told The STAR.

The driver ran after the suspects upon realizing that the P200 bill was fake.

The suspects tried to flee but Racman was cornered a by Estabillio through the help of bystanders.

The suspect was brought to Karuhatan Barangay Hall where another fake P200 bill was found in his possession.

According to PO3 Jun Santos, Racman would be charged with illegal use and possession of fake currency and estafa.

Santos said the central bank had certified that the seized bills from Racman were counterfeit.

SPO3 Jesus Sagisi, Valenzuela City police senior investigator, warned the public yesterday, particularly jeepney and taxi drivers who are “obvious targets” of the syndicate, to carefully scrutinize P200, P500 and P1000 bills paid to them by passengers.