Cops monitoring source of fake money

CEBU, Philippines - Police have reason to believe that the fake bills confiscated from one Alan Alquiza over the weekend are remnants of those seized from a certain Richard Uy last year.

In a press conference yesterday,  Chief  Inspector Romeo Santander of the city intelligence branch said they are currently monitoring another person who also operates in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City in the same area where Uy was arrested in July last year.

The intelligence branch of the provincial police is also conducting parallel monitoring.

Superintendent Rodulfo Albotra Jr., PIB chief, said they have placed a person reportedly known for manufacturing fake money under surveillance to see if he remains active in the illegal activity.

"Naa mi personality nga gitan-aw and if in case mosiaw gyud ni sa city (Cebu) basin mosiaw sad ni siya sa probinsiya," Albotra said.

"Naa na mi idea ani niya, as well as information nga among nakuha during our operation, but he is subject for validation," he added.

Chief Inspector Noel Lomente, Carbon Police Station chief, also said the 'leftover' counterfeit bills might have just been used little by little after Uy's arrest.

He said that since he assumed office, Alquiza's operation was the third police have intercepted. The first complainant was reportedly a cellphone dealer and the second was a Muslim vendor. The third complainant is a vegetable vendor.

Lomente said the six P1,000 bills, one P100 bill, and $1 bill have been checked by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and results showed that all six P1,000 are counterfeit bills and the P100 bill are counterfeit. The $1 bill is reportedly genuine.

Lomente said Alquiza admitted getting the fake bills from a source he refused to name.

Lomente cautioned the public to be always on the lookout for fake money.

He said one can determine if a bill is fake just by touching it and looking at it carefully. A fake bill is reportedly smoother to the touch and appears shinier than a genuine one.

"Ini’g hikap palang gani nimo mailhan na na nimo no, ang tinuod mas sapnot na siya kompara sa piki… mas sinaw na ang piki mora’g naay wax ang papel," he said. (FREEMAN)