Police holds seminar on detection of counterfeit money

by Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, Dec. 12 (PIA) – The Police Provincial Office (PPO) here spearheaded a Philippine Currency and Awareness Seminar on December 6 to ensure that the police personnel will not be deceived of counterfeit peso bills and coins.

Police provincial director Senior Superintendent John CA Jambora said that in the advent of the holiday season, authorities are anticipating for fraudsters especially those faking the Philippine currency to once again proliferate.

“It is important for our police force to be aware not only of the modus operandi of these charlatans but also to be familiar with the characteristics of fake and genuine Philippine money,” said Jambora.

Resource persons invited to give inputs were Cynthia S. Ariola and Silvestre M. Bernaldez Jr. of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Legazpi Branch.

Ariola explained that counterfeit money may spread anew as demands in time for the holiday season go up, adding that cashiers and ordinary people are at risk of being victimized as even bank tellers sometimes fail to recognize these counterfeit money.

According to the Ariola, genuine currencies have embossed prints like the words “Republika ng Pilipinas” that are rough when touched, adding that the serial number is composed of one or two prefix letters and six or seven asymmetric or increasing sizes, and the Security Thread running vertically across the note is visible from either side of the bill when viewed against the light.

Bernaldez also explained that genuine peso bills are printed on a special paper made of combination of cotton and Abaca fibers that are coarse and rough to touch while counterfeit money is mostly printed on bond papers, are smooth and thin.

He added that counterfeit money is easily torn while the legitimate ones are stronger and with some sort of elasticity before breaking.

Participants were also given the chance to have a hands-on experience of examining genuine Philippine currencies.

Said activity was attended by personnel from Provincial Headquarters, Sorsogon Provincial Public Safety Company, Sorsogon City Police station and different Municipal Police stations in the province. (MAL/BAR/NFMarquez-SPPO-PCR/PIA5)