MANILA, Philippines — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has sued a netizen who uploaded a video on social media app TikTok while burning a P20 banknote.
BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan said in a message to The STAR that a complaint has been filed against the netizen, whom he did not name, with the Quezon City prosecutor’s office in coordination with the police Anti-Cybercrime Group.
“We will pursue this case until conviction. If convicted, the perpetrator faces imprisonment of up to six years. We assure the public that BSP shall continue to protect the integrity of our currency as a safe medium of exchange for economic growth,” Tangonan said.
The TikTok video, which was taken down by the owner, showed the man burning a P20 bill before using it to light up a bottle of gin. The video was then re-uploaded by netizens on Tiktok.
Tangonan pointed out that the act on the video and the use of the video in committing the act are both unlawful.
The netizen faces charges of violating Presidential Decree (PD) 247, Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
According to the BSP, PD 247 prohibits and penalizes the mutilation, tearing, burning and destruction of currency notes and coins issued by the central bank.
Article 154 of the RPC punishes persons who, by any means of publication, encourage disobedience to the law.
The Cybercrime Prevention Act penalizes all crimes covered by the RPC and special laws if committed through or with the use of information and communications technology.
“Therefore, we would like to remind everyone not to mutilate, tear, burn or destroy our currency and to report to the BSP any incident of this nature,” Tangonan said.