P3M fake money may be circulating in Negros Occidental — cops

Some P3 million in fake bills that could be used to buy votes may have started circulating in Negros Occidental province in Western Visayas alone, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

Provincial police officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Ricardo de la Paz advised residents of the fake money, Negros-based Visayan Daily Star reported on Wednesday.

The report said a concerned citizen turned over some P150,000 in fake P500 bills to the provincial police office on Tuesday.

De la Paz cited initial information reaching him showing the bulk of the fake bills could be circulating in Bacolod City.

The PNP warned those caught circulating fake bills may face 12 to 20 years in jail, and a fine of up to P10,000.

Also, de la Paz appealed to the public to report fake bills to the authorities, even as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas advised people to be careful in money dealings.

The BSP said the public should be familiar with the features of genuine notes, including the amount in words, numerical figures at the lower right hand of the note and signatures.

For now, BSP representatives are looking into how widely the fake bills had been distributed. - VVP, GMA News