The alleged counterfeit bills and fake gold bars authorities seized from the suspects. (CIDG Misamis Oriental Provincial Field Unit handout photo)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Five suspects of selling fake gold bars and counterfeit banknotes were nabbed on two separate operations by a joint team of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-10 (CIDG-10) Misamis Oriental and Camiguin provincial field units, Opol municipal police station, and representatives from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Payments and Currency Investigation Group.
On September 1, the composite team arrested Eglesiro Quijano, 61, at Barangay Poblacion, Villanuega town, Misamis Oriental, the CIDG-10 said Sunday, September 4.
Quijano, also known as “Datu” and “Doc,” is the alleged leader of the Doc Crime Group engaged in the manufacturing, trading, and distribution of counterfeit money and fake gold bars. He is a native of Zamboanga del Sur but presently residing at Barangay Patpat, Malitbog town, Bukidnon.
Also arrested were Aurelio Adanza, 54, from Surigao City; Pablo Rayon, 41, from Patpat, Malitbog; and Alfredo Allego, 64, from Purok 8, Barangay Poblacion, Claveria town, Misamis Oriental.
The four suspects were caught after trying to sell counterfeit gold bars to the CIDG-10 agents. Confiscated from them were fake gold bars of different weights and sizes, P1,000 buy-bust money, two units of motorcycle, 50 pieces counterfeit P1,000 bills, 40 pieces counterfeit P500 bills, and two cellular phones.
On September 4, a follow-up operation was conducted resulting in the arrest of Aguileo ‘Loloy’ Cabeltes, 72, at Upper Carmen, this city. Seized from him were two pieces of genuine P1,000 bills, 230 pieces of fake P1,000 bills, 40 pieces of counterfeit P500 bills, and a cellular phone.
‘Rampant’
Authorities planned the entrapment operations after receiving information that the manufacture of fake gold bars and counterfeit money is rampant in Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, and Cagayan de Oro.
“This is two months in the making,” said Capt. Noel Oclarit, CIDG-10’s arresting team leader, noting they surveilled Quijano’s group for weeks before launching the operations.
The counterfeit currencies, Oclarit said, were used in buying items at sari-sari (variety) stores and street vendors, in making bets at cockfights, and in selling to politicians, especially during the campaign period
Lt. Col. Sandro Santillan, provincial officer of CIDG field units in Misamis Oriental and Camiguin, said cases for the crime of estafa and Revised Penal Code Article 168 in relation to Article 166 (law punishing illegal possession and use of false treasury or bank notes and other instruments of credit) are being prepared against the arrested individuals.
“We would like to assure the public through our intensive operations involving the manufacture and trade of counterfeit money and fake gold that individuals engaging in said activities shall be held accountable and will bear the long arm of the law,” said Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, the CIDG director, in a statement. (davaotoday.com)
