OLONGAPO CITY – Police here warned all businessmen and local folk to be vigilant this Christmas season following the arrest of five persons who used fake yen in a pawnshop here Tuesday afternoon.
Police Station 1, Commander, Chief Inspector Julius Caesar Domingo, suspects were identified as Angelica Peralta, 21; Jenelyn Ocampo, 21; Jimmy Angeles, 42; Ace Gulapa, 22 and Rowena Herrera, 29 all residents of Magalang, Pampanga.
Investigation conducted by PO3 Rogelio Gregorio said, Peralta and Ocampo were arrested at the vicinity of Victory Liner Bus Terminal along Anonas St., Barangay West Bajc-Bajac, while their cohorts were arrested at Lubao, Pampanga on board a Victory Liner Bus at the vicinity of Double Happiness during a follow-up operation by police.
Report said at about 4:15 P.M., when the suspects went to Adel’s Pawnshop along Rizal Avenue and exchanged their 5-pieces of ¥10,000 yen note (popularly knownas “Lapad”) amounting to P21,000. ¥10,000 is equivalent to around P4,000.
When Teller Melissa found that the yen was fake, she refused to give the money but Gulapa and Angeles poked her with knife and grabbed the money and immediately leaved the pawnshop.
“Nang malaman kong fake yung kanilang ipinapapalit na yen hindi ko na ibinigay yung pera, pero tinutukan ako ng patalim at hinablot nila yung pera at saka tumakas”, she said.
Report said the yen was owned by Gulapa and according to him, the yen came from one of his Japanese friend.
Suspects were all detained at Police Station 1 detention cell, facing an appropriate charges.
