Cops bust bogus money syndicate

Two members of a money counterfeiting syndicate, out on bail for repeated violations of possessing and distributing fake peso bills, were arrested in their safehouse in Valenzuela City by operatives of the Northern Metro Manila Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG North) yesterday.

Superintendent William Macavinta, CIDG North chief, identified the suspects as Rodolfo Jabiguero alias "Intoy," 49, married, tricycle driver and Antonio Espeleta, 42, married, welder, both of Barangay Bitik, Gen. T. de Leon, Valenzuela City.

The suspects, both repeat offenders, were arrested on the strength of a warrant issued by Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court Branch 171 Judge Nena Santos.

Seized from the suspects were bundles of bogus pesos bills in various denominations, namely, 40 pieces of P500; 45 pieces of P50; and 20 pieces of P200.

In his report to CIDG Camp Crame, Macavinta said joint elements of the CIDG North which he led; the Northern Police District-District Police Intelligence Unit (DPIU), led by Superintendent Sotero Ramos and Orlando Campomanes; and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) representatives served the warrant in the presence of Kagawad Moises Beltran of Gen. T. De Leon against the suspects at around 10:30 a.m. last Friday.

When Jabiguero and Espeleta sensed the arrival of the lawmen, they tried to run away, but were quickly subdued.

SPO4 Hector Ravina, one of the arresting officers, said the suspects were arrested for the same charges while operating in Iloilo City last year.

Released after posting bail, the suspects were again nabbed in May last year in a rented house on Gen. T. de Leon in Valenzuela for the same offense.

Jabiguero and an Arlene Pedrajas of Paco, Manila were arrested last Sunday allegedly by NBI operatives, but were again released allegedly for lack of an arrest warrant.

Seized in that raid were fake P500, P100, and P200 bills, computers, printers, scanners, an ultraviolet (UV) machine used to detect fake bills and other pieces of evidence.

Arlene’s husband, Eduardo Pedrajas, a native of Iloilo and alleged leader of the syndicate, is in hiding, police said.

The suspects are now held at the CIDG North detention center pending the filing of charges in violation of Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code, or the Illegal Possession and Use of False Treasury Bank Notes and Other Instruments. — With Jaime Laude, Pete Laude