6 arrested in raid for document forgery

Six vendors of fake documents were arrested along Recto Avenue in Manila on Tuesday, according to a report by GMA's Susan Enriquez for “24 Oras.”

Operatives of the Manila Police District Station 3 arrested the suspects during a raid and confiscated the signage from their stalls, which were set up at the university belt.

Classes in private and public elementary schools and high schools are about to start, so the dealers are once again in business.

The suspects defended that it is their only source of income.

“May mga anak pa ako, marami akong anak eh, wala namang hanapbuhay,” one of them said.

MPD Station 3 officials said they clear the streets of their illegal dealings nearly every day.

However, they are unable to find grounds to charge the vendors due to a lack of complainants.

“Itong mga ’to ay guerilla type. The moment na nakikita na nila na nagclearing...nagtatago na ho yan, mabilis na sila makapasok sa loob,” said Chief Inspector Marlon Mallorca, Deputy Commander at Station 3.

“Wala naman talagang complainant, nakikita niyo lang na nakatayo yung signage nila at nandoon sila sa gilid, obstruction na lang yung ikinakaso namin,” Mallorca added.

The Department of Education (DepEd) warned that they can easily cross-check the legitimacy of students' documents.

“Ang bawat bata ay mayroon pong learner's reference number na tinatawag. Kaya po namin matukoy kung ano talaga ang baitang na natapos ng isang bata, ano po ang kanilang records, ano po ang kanilang grado,” said Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali, spokesman for DepEd.

He urged those who submit fake documents to be reported. — Jessica Bartolome, BAP, GMA News