BSP, PNP file charges against Tiktoker who burned P20 bill

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Monday said it has already filed the necessary charges against an individual who posted a video on social media showing him burning a P20 banknote.

According to BSP Strategic Communication and Advocacy Managing Director Antonio “Tony” Lambino II, the central bank has been in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“’Yan po ay bawal. Nag-file ng charges ang BSP at PNP laban dito,” he said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

“‘Wag lang po natin sadyaing sirain ang ating salapi dahil ‘yan po ang bawal,” Lambino added.

[That is prohibited. The BSP and the PNP have filed charges against this… Let us not intentionally destroy our banknotes because this is prohibited.]

The statement comes as a netizen posted a video on social media site Tiktok showing him burning a P20 bill, which the central bank earlier flagged.

BSP Senior Investigation Officer Atty. Mark Fajardo in April said the video was taken down after receiving backlash from other netizens, and the location of the uploader has already been identified.

Under Presidential Decree 247 signed by the late dictator former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1973, the defacement, mutilation, tearing, burning, or destruction of central bank notes and coins was made illegal.

The law mandates that any violator will be punished by a fine of not more than P20,000, and/or imprisonment of not more than five years.

“Kahit sa social media, maaari tayong makapag-commit ng mga ganitong violations. Wala po kayong takas,” BSP Quezon City Representative Dickenson Gamalo said in April.

[These violations can be committed even on social media. You have no escape.]

Moving forward, Lambino called on the public to take care of the currency, whether they be paper bills — paper or polymer — or coins.

Lambino also noted that while the public is discouraged from stapling the bills, these are still considered legal tender even with staple marks.

“Possession and use of stapled bills, hindi po ‘yan illegal. Dapat tanggapin pa rin ang stapled bills at pwede pa rin pong gamitin sa mga pang araw araw na transaksyon,” he said.

“Igiit na lang natin, sana pangalagaan natin ang ating salapi. Let us take care of our bills and our coins,” he added.

[Possession and use of stapled bills is not illegal. Stapled bills should be accepted and can still be used in daily transactions.

Let us stress that the public should take care of our currency. Let us take care of our bills and our coins.] —KG, GMA News