A man in Bago City in Negros Occidental landed in jail after he was caught using fake money for an online transaction.

The suspect, identified as Bernie Nietes, Jr., reportedly lingered at the store owned by Jojin Faith Padriga until he decided to avail of the store’s cash in service.

This means the store would send money to his digital wallet or account equivalent to the money he would pay the store. In this case, he asked to cash in P10,000.

But Padriga became suspicious because the P1,000 bills Nietes handed to pay for the service appeared fake. A closer look at the bills showed the text "PLAY MONEY" printed on each bill. 

“Hawak niya ang pera, nakatalikod siya sa akin. Akala niya siguro, na-process ko ang pera at ipinasa sa kanya. Sabi ko, akin na ang pera mo. Fake talaga. Ang color, parang printed lang sa P1,000,” Padriga said.

As captured in a video, Nietes tried to escape on board a motorcycle but another man stopped him and brought him back to the store.

He was arrested and put behind bars at the Bago City Police Station.

In an exclusive interview with GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas, Nietes said he was only ordered to make the transaction and, with a gun pointed at him, he was allegedly threatened that he would be killed if he refused to do so.

“Pinagbantaan ako nila, tinutukan ako ng armas, sabi papatayin ako kung hindi ko sila susundin. Pasensya na sa may-ari ng tindahan,” he said.

He reportedly worked as a delivery driver a construction firm in Bacolod City.

The police said they would verify Nietes’ claims.

“May isa raw siyang kasama pero i-prove pa natin at ibestigahan pa nang maayos kung totoo ang sinasabi niya,” said Lt. Col. James Latayon, Jr., Chief of the Bago City Police Station.