Sunday, December 28, 2003
Fake 1B US dollars seized; 13 men fall
By Harley Palanchao
LA UNION -- Police and military operatives arrested on Friday 13 members of a syndicate involved in the transaction of counterfeit currencies and seized almost US$1 billion worth of fake dollar bills and gold bullion certificates, officials reported Saturday.
Chief Supt. Clyde Cabreros, director of the Police Regional Office-Region 1, reported that the 13 suspects were arrested in two separate sites at Poro Point, San Fernando City, La Union, an hour drive from Baguio.
Cabreros said the group, headed by one Rolando Aquino of Baguio City, 43, was behind the transaction of fake US treasury bonds and gold bullion certificates in La Union and nearby provinces.
Sun.Star, however, learned that Aquino posted a still undetermined amount for his temporary liberty.
Sr. Supt. Franklin Jesus Bucayu identified the suspects aside from Aquino, as Ernesto Posadas Camanong, 50, from Sto. Tomas La Union; Jun Monton Cisnero, 35, from San Fernando City, La Union; Gloria Halog Batario, 57, from Aringay, La Union; Raffy Marcos Singson, 49, from Agoo, La Union; Edna Flores Bengson, 41, old from San Fernando City, La Union; Maria Heriedina Castro Jacusalem, 44, from Madaluyong City and; Eloisa Chan Posadas, 45, from Agoo, La Union. All were arrested at about 12 noon Friday.
Sr. Supt. Samuel Diciano, director of the La Union Provincial Police Office, said the suspects were in possession of the fake dollar bills worth US$362 million, 20 fake treasury bonds worth US$50 million each and one gold bullion certificate worth US$10 million when arrested.
A follow-up operation conducted by the same operatives at about eight in the evening at Oasis Resort in La Union also resulted to the arrest of Gallardo Marzo Estacio, 56, from Sta Barbara, Pangasinan; Leonardo Salde Napoles, 46, from Makati City; Marietta Bravo Mejia, 57, from Malasique, Pangasinan; Pepito Basister Bernisca, 45, from Bicol; and Lilia Austria Estacio, 51, from Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.
Police also confiscated a gold bullion certificate, treasury guarantee certificate and inventory list, insurance certificate, US dollar bills inventory certificate, treasury certificate and global immunity provision certificate from Wells Fargo Bank and Union Trust company in New York, various other certificates from different banks worldwide and fake US dollar bills.
Bucayo said they will be filing charges against the suspects for counterfeiting drafts, illegal possession of counterfeit drafts and bonds, and for economic sabotage, all punishable under the Revised Penal Code.
Police are still investigating the sources of the counterfeit currencies, although Bucayo claimed that these items were clandestinely shipped to the coastal parts of the Ilocos Region.
So far, no victim has come into the open to identify the suspects, but authorities are confident that concerned individuals are willing to testify against the arrested persons.
The police have been checking on the group after they received information on the proliferation of counterfeit dollar bills and bonds in Baguio City, La Union and Pangasinan.
"We received the information last November and since then, we were in continues monitoring of the activities relating to the hot items," Sr. Supt. Romeo Espiritu, PNP-Region 1 chief of staff said. With Liza Galao and Jojo Lamaria
(December 28, 2003 issue)
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