A market vendor fell victim to a customer who paid an item using a bogus P1,000 bill.

A CCTV video showed a man who bought from a store in Barangay Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan on January 12, 2026. The customer bought a pack of cigarettes and paid P1,000 bill.

The man left hurriedly after receiving the change.

It was too late, according to the vendor, a senior citizen, when she found out that the money is fake.

Another public market vendor, Reynaldo Zonio, fell victim to a similar modus. He said it was a good thing someone gave him P3,000 as assistance upon learning of his predicament.

“Kung sino man ang nagbigay sa akin ng tulong sana mabigyan sila ng mabuting kalusugan. Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila,” Zonio said.

Based on the record of Kalibo Police, three similar incidents using fake P1,000 bill were logged from January 11 to 16, 2026.

“Ang ating suspects, (may) the same (na) modus. Bumibili sila ng certain na (item) worth P100 then nagpe-pay sila using the 1,000 peso bill. Ang kanilang modus, nagmamadali sila, then kapag na-receive na ang sukli, kaagad na umaalis,” Lt. Sally Mar Bretaña, public information officer of Kalibo Municipal Police Station, said.

The police are after a person of interest.

Police said the suspect is possibly connected with an arrested person, one of the most wanted persons in Kalibo, on January 13, with a case in relation to the use of fake money.

In Iloilo City, Angelica Luching, a senior citizen and vendor, is also a victim of a customer who bought using fake money.

“50 pesos ang kanyang pera, peke pala kasi nang ginamit ko pambili sa iba, hindi tinanggap. Tiningnan ko kung peke ba o hindi,” Luching said.

Police advised the public to double check the features of the money they will receive, especially during the Dinagyang festivity.

“During sa festivities, lalabas talaga iyan. So, double checking and extra careful sa mga business and using money especially sa mga P1,000,” said Colonel Wilbert Parilla, officer in charge of the Iloilo City Police Office.

To determine whether the money is fake, one must observe the feel-look-and-tilt test according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.