Taguig Mayor Sigfrido Tinga has warned the public against counterfeit money after two members of a syndicate were arrested by local police while peddling the fake money apparently not only in city but also in some parts of Metro Manila.

“We therefore advise our residents to carefully examine their bills, so as not to be victimized by this illegal activity. We also call on the public to call our emergency hotline, 1623, for information that will lead to the arrest of those behind the proliferation of counterfeit money,” Tinga said.

He said that joint elements of the Taguig Police Intelligence/ANCAR Section and the Station Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Group (SAID-SOTG) arrested the two suspects during an entrapment operation at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday in front of a pawnshop on Maharlika Road, Brgy. Upper Bicutan.

The joint operation was also done in coordination with the investigative team of television program “XXX” aired over ABS-CBN.

Police chief Camilo Pancratius Cascolan identified the suspects as Fernandez S. Turogonan, 31, of Casoy St., Brgy. Western Bicutan; and Jhon L. Balayman, 20, of Wild Cat, Brgy. Ususan.

Cascolan said that prior to the arrest of the suspects, a poseur-buyer managed to purchase 10 pieces of fake P100 bills for P300 from the suspects.

He said that they recovered P2,000 worth of fake money in P100 denomination from both suspects.

Tinga said that a week-long surveillance was conducted before the actual operation and revealed that the suspects were selling fake versions of P200, P500 and P1000 bills on the streets.

Tinga has ordered the police to conduct followup operations to bust the syndicate.

Charges of illegal possession and use of false treasury and bank notes and other instruments of credits will be filed against the suspects.