ORMOC CITY-A young man was arrested by barangay tanods and later turned over to the local police after five store owners complained that he used counterfeit money to purchase goods from their stores at about 9 am on Thursday (May 16) in Barangay Tigbawon, Paranas, Samar.
The arrested suspect was identified by the local police as alias “Van”, 18, and a resident of Brgy. Tigbawon.
The police identified the victims as alias “Nora”, 50, alias “Mely”, 29, alias “Dora”, 60, alias “Lisa”, 34, and alias “Berto”, 44, all residents of said barangay.
According to the complainants, the suspect bought liquor and cigarettes at their respective sari-sari stores using seventeen pieces of P1,000 believed to be counterfeit, all bearing identical serial numbers WB 379038.
The police reported that the suspect was apprehended by the barangay tanod in the said barangay and properly turned over to the responding police personnel.
During a body search conducted in the presence of legal witnesses, the arresting officer recovered another 40 pieces of P1,000, also counterfeit and bearing the same serial number WB 379038, from the suspect’s possession.
The suspect did not disclose the source of the counterfeit money and claimed he was merely asked to buy beverages and cigarettes using the said money.
The arrested suspect and the confiscated evidence were brought to Paranas municipal police station for documentation and appropriate charges were filed against the suspect.
(ROBERT DEJON)
