A graphic artist was arrested by police in an entrapment operation in San Juan City Friday for allegedly selling a fake health certificate and travel pass.
According to the police, the suspect Angelito Benipayo, 42, was nabbed at a store inside a popular shopping center in San Juan after a concerned citizen sought their help to verify the authenticity of his wife’s health certificate and travel pass purchased at the said store.
Police said the San Juan City Health Office issued a certification that the said documents in question were fake, and that the signature of the city health officer on the document was scanned and forged.
During the sting operation, the complainant and police officers in plain clothes reportedly purchased from the suspect the supposed health certificate and travel pass for P700.
“Suspect immediately edited and scanned the health certificate and travel pass from his laptop and printed it,” the police report said.
After receiving the P1,000 marked money, Benipayo was arrested. Police also nabbed one Laverne Esquivias, 32 for reportedly preventing the cops from arresting Benipayo.
Recovered from the crime scene were a laptop, printer, and a laminating machine allegedly used by the suspect in forging documents.
Police said charges of forgery and falsification of public documents will be filed against Benipayo, while Esquivias will be charged with obstruction of justice.