TUMAUINI, Isabela -- Police arrested the alleged leader and seven members of a gang involved in the selling of counterfeit bank notes in Barangay 3 here last Tuesday.
Police Lt. Col. Julius N. Jacinto, Isabela Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief, identified the suspects as Menerva Roan, 53, of Barangay San Pedro, Angono, Rizal, the leader of the group; Fe Borromeo, 67, of Barangay Santo Niño, San Mateo, Rizal; Michelle Quitalib, 63, of District 3, Cauayan City, Isabela; Pilar Castilleja, 64, of Cauayan City; Monette Baronia, 41, of Cauayan City; Rowena de Guzman, 53, of Barangay Quirino, Maria Aurora, Aurora; Aji Marquez, single, of Sinimbaan, Roxas, Isabela; and Jay Mark Bredico of Masaya Sur, San Agustin, Isabela.
Jacinto said the suspects offered bank notes worth millions to two rich businessmen in this province.
However, the two businessmen sensed that these were fake and reached out to authorities.
Police mounted a month long surveillance and the two businessmen managed to strike a deal with the suspects, setting up an entrapment operation in a restaurant here.
The suspects were arrested by the CIDG Isabela, police here, and Police Regional Office 2 after they sold uncut counterfeit US dollars, different foreign bank notes, old Philippine currency, and HSBC bank statement certificate to the two businessmen with an estimated value of P2 million.
Recovered from the suspects among others were five pieces uncut 100 US dollars with a total amount of 14,000 dollars; one piece golden US dollar amounting to one million bank notes; two pieces 100 golden US dollar bank notes; one piece golden 500 Euro bank notes; one piece golden 200 Euro bank notes; one piece 100 golden Euro bank notes; 52 pieces one hundred trillion each Zimbabwenian golden dollar bank notes with a total of 5.2 quadrillion; two pieces one hundred trillion each Zimbabwenian dollar paper bills amounting to 200 trillion; and 100 pieces 20
billion each Zimbabwenian dollar paper bank notes amounting to two quadrillion.
Also recovered from them were 10 pieces Smart mobile phones; five pieces keypad mobile phones; 12 HSBC bank deposit certificates amounting to 57 trillion dollars each; seven pieces live ammunition for caliber .45; silver Hyundai Starex with license plates POD-656 registered under the name of Norma C. Estavillo of Purok 1, Barangay Minanga, Naguillian, Isabela; and boodle money amounting to P2 million.
“May mga nabiktima na rin ang grupo sa Baguio at pinaniniwalaang na ang mga ito ay kumukuha o ginagawa ang kanilang counterfeit sa NCR,” Jacinto aded.
A Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reprrsentative witnesssed the operation.
The suspects were taken to the CIDG Regional Field Unit 2 (CIDG RFU2) Isabela Provincial Field Unit for documentation and filing of charges for violation of Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code or Illegal Possession and Use of False Treasury or Bank Notes and Other Instruments of Credit and Violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Regulation Act.