4 arrested in alleged possession of fake US dollar bills

Four persons were arrested in separate operations in Pampanga and Tarlac for alleged possession and distribution of counterfeit US dollars, according to the report of John Consulta on "Saksi."

Two men were arrested by National Bureau of Investigation - Special Action Unit (NBI-SAU) in Angeles, Pampanga after money changers declined to receive the fake US dollars presented by the suspects.

Recovered from the suspects were 78 pieces of counterfeit 100 US dollar bills.

Atty. Kristine dela Cruz, NBI-SAU executive officer, said they witnessed the suspects trying to exchange the fake US dollar bills for their peso equivalent at the money exchange.

They NBI personnel also witnessed the teller rejected them because they doubted and later found out that dollar bills were counterfeit.

In a follow up operation conducted in Bamban, Tarlac the NBI-SAU personnel arrested to women suspects, who were identified as the alleged source of the fake US dollar bills in Pampanga.

Confiscated from the suspects were fake US dollars and two bundles of fake one thousand peso bills.

The bills were verified by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to be counterfeit.

Dela Cruz said the bills were were well crafted but these do not have security features.

The suspects, Dela Cruz added, were charged with illegal possession and use of false treasury or bank notes and other instruments of credit.

GMA News has exerted efforts to get comments from the suspects as of posting time. -- BAP, GMA News