BSP, PNP file raps vs 5 individuals damaging peso bills on socmed

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have filed criminal complaints against five individuals who posted videos on social media of “willfully defacing and mutilating” Philippine currency banknotes.

In a statement, the BSP said its Payments and Currency Investigation Group and the PNP Quezon City Police District-Anti-Cybercrime Team filed the charges against the five individuals before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

A report on “24 Oras” by John Consulta showed that a social media influencer and four Tiktokers are subjects of complaints.

The social media influencer tore a 20-peso bill in a video posted online while a magician punched a hole into a 1000-peso bill with a pen, a man used a 50-peso bill as a funnel in pouring oil into a motorcycle engine, one stapled a 100-peso bill to a plastic basketball rim, and another one wiped his shoes with two 500-peso bills before throwing the cash to the ground.

The central bank said the individuals were charged with violation of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 247, in relation to Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended, and Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

The PD No. 247 penalizes the willful defacement, mutilation, tearing, burning, or destruction of Philippine currency by imprisonment of up to five years and a fine not exceeding P20,000.00.

Meanwhile, under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, persons who, by any means of publication, encourage disobedience to the law are penalized by imprisonment and fine.

The Cybercrime Prevention Act also penalizes all crimes covered by the RPC and special laws, if committed through or with the use of information and communication technologies, with a penalty at least one degree higher than that provided by the RPC and special laws, as the case may be.

The BSP called on the public to handle all Philippine banknotes and coins with “due respect and dignity, and to protect their integrity as part of the country’s rich culture and heritage.”—AOL, GMA News