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Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Probe bureau seizes P33.8M counterfeit bills
By Rhodamae M. Hernandez
DAVAO CITY -- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Southern Mindanao and National Capital Region arrested two men and confiscated fake bills amounting to US$658,000 or P33.8 million.
Negative films of fake US dollar bills and treasury seals from a printing press along Quezon Boulevard in Davao City were also confiscated.
The arrested men were identified as Pedro Clampatana Lacang, 49, a resident of Porras Street in Agdao, Davao City, and Priscillo Posadas, 46, a resident of 134-I Quezon Boulevard.
They were arrested in an entrapment operation by the two NBI regional offices around 9 p.m. of October 27.
Confiscated from the suspects were two negative films of US$1,000 bill; eight negatives of US$100 bill; four negatives of US treasury seal; one unit hand press machine; one unit embossing machine; uncut US$100 bills without serial number; uncut US$100 bills with serial number; and $658,000 bills equivalent to P33.8 million.
Lacang, who was arrested last June for a similar offense in General Santos City, said somebody bailed him out and forced him to produce more fake bills in exchange for his bond.
"He told me I have to do this lest he will be arrested," Lacang said.
The two stand accused of violating Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code, or the Illegal Possession/Use of False Treasury or Bank Notes and other instruments of credit, and Article 166 or the forging of treasury or bank notes.
NBI-Southern Mindanao received information from a confidential agent that Lacang was engaged in the manufacture and sale of falsified treasury notes, US$100 bills, and other currencies.
Upon receipt of the information, the NBI conducted a surveillance operation.
The NBI found the location of the printing press -- inside a house between Option Pharmacy and Gohiting Furniture Plaza along Quezon Boulevard.
Armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Renato Fuentes, agents and special investigators of the two NBI regional offices with representatives from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas searched the area and arrested Posadas, the owner of the printing press, and his worker Lacang.
Posadas was drunk at the time of the arrest.
NBI-Southern Mindanao Director Romulo Manapsal said they surveyed the area for three months.
"They were not able to pin down the leader but we will find out (who this person is) after thorough investigation," Manapsal said.
NBI-National Capital Region Deputy Director Reynaldo Esmeralda said they are hot on the heels of counterfeiters who appear to be part of a bigger syndicate.
Wilfredo Villaluz of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said the public should always be on the lookout for fake dollars.
Villaluz said fake dollars are smoother, the portrait in the money is blurred, and the color is not quite the same as the genuine ones.
"If you look closely, there is a difference and you can distinguish this if only you look really close," Villaluz said.
Penalty for violating Article 166 of the Revised Penal Code is imprisonment from eight to 12 years, while it is imprisonment not exceeding four years for Article 168.
The suspects are now detained at the NBI-Southern Mindanao detention cell. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(October 31, 2006 issue)
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