Internet café mgt denies knowledge of fake money

The management of the internet cafe where fake money was printed has surfaced and denied involvement in the illegal act.

Regine Padernal, operations manager of Josh Internet Café, said the management has directed all their 36 branches in Metro Cebu to refrain from printing money even if the clients insist that it is for academic purposes.

“First time

attendant branch

Sanciangko

project

So, she told reporters.

Padernal went to the RI¿FH RI &HEX &LW\ &RXQFLORU David Tumulak yesterday morning to explain the side of the internet cafe.

She said Tumulak invited them to present the internet café owner’s side on arrest of one Junrey Cagay,

— Kristine B. Quintas / RHM

who allegedly manufactured and sold fake money last Friday and Saturday.

attendant project and mostly is for project

attendant

Padernal

said.

After the incident, she said, they warned all branches to refrain from printing money. (Colored printing on a short bond paper costs just Php5.) Padernal said the branch is willing to coordinate with authorities in any investigation.

she said.

Tumulak, for his part, asked all internet cafes and printing shops in the city to disallow the printing of money. If not, he said they

Odessa O. Leyson / RHM

should put “fake money” to those printed bills.

At least, he said the internet shop cooperated with the investigation.

internet cafes and printing shops that they are not allowed to print

sentral bank allowed. In case case Sentral Bank, printing shops are also liable,” he told reporters.

Tumulak also asked the public, especially vendors and jeepney drivers, to be vigilant in accepting money, which might turn out to be fake.

Padernal said that based on the result of her investigation of their branches in the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Cebu, only their Sanciangko branch in Cebu City printed Cagay’s fake money at P5 per page of colored print.

Cagay alleged sold every P100 and P200 counterfeit money for P20, and P50 pesos for each of the P1,000-peso bill.

Tumulak urged internet and printing shops to prohibit from printing any peso bill, unless they are VSHFL¿FDOO\ LQGLFDWHG DV WR\ money.

He feared that proliferation of counterfeit money will lead to smalltime businesses’ bankruptcy as they do not own a money detector to check if they are given fake money or not since most don't own a money detector.

An investigation to pursue Cagay’s cohorts is underway after police RI¿FHUV UHWULHYHG WKH VRIW copy of the fake bills from the internet shop.

Complaints of forgery and illegal possession of bank treasury notes are being prepared against Cagay.

— Jean Marvette A. Demecillo and Mae Clydyl L. Avila / RHM