TAGUIG CITY — A former army officer who had been dismissed from service was apprehended on Saturday, August 12, 2023, for attempting to use a counterfeit P1,000 bill at a store located in Barangay, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
The individual in question, Kevin Jhon Soncio, aged 30, was identified as the suspect. A witness at the store noticed that the P1,000 bill used to pay for a pack of cigarettes was counterfeit. This prompted the witness to seek police assistance, resulting in the apprehension of Soncio.
Upon his arrest, Soncio claimed to be a former army officer. Upon searching his possession, authorities discovered ten different forged identification cards and nine fake P1,000 bills.
During his detention, verification by Southern Police District officers confirmed that Soncio had indeed been dismissed from the army.
Brig. Gen. Roderick Mariano, the director of the SPD, cautioned the public as the holiday season approached, as criminal syndicates often take advantage of this time to circulate counterfeit currency.
He urged citizens to remain vigilant, particularly in transactions involving small convenience stores (sari-sari stores), to avoid falling victim to counterfeit currency.
Soncio now faces multiple charges, including Violation of Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code (pertaining to the illegal possession and use of false Treasury Bank Notes and other instruments of credit), Usurpation of Authority, and Falsification of Public Documents. (Benjie Cuaresma/ai/mnm)
