CABANATUAN CITY –A 36-year-old tricycle driver found himself in deep trouble for tearing a P20 bill paid as transportation fare of a female passenger here.
Supt. Joselito Villarosa, city police chief, said Alexander Sunga, a resident of Purok 3, Barangay Accfa this city, was arrested by authorities after he allegedly tore the bil, with serial no. JT9350515, paid by Elizabeth Pangilinan-Diesta, 54, an employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) here.
Diesta told the police she was on her way to work when the incident happened Monday morning. Police investigator said Sunga might have asked for a bigger fare. The suspect has yet to comment on the charges even as he was detained at the police facility.
A criminal complaint for violations of PD 247 (Tearing of Currency Notes) and unjust vexation was forwarded to the Cabanatuan City Prosecutor’s Office, Villarosa said. PD 247 was signed into law by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos on July 18,1973. It also penalizes defacement, mutilation, burning or destruction of notes and coins which are issued by Central Bank for circulation as medium of exchange.
The law said utilizing them for other purposes does not speak well of the due respect and dignity befitting the currency and unfavorably reflect on the discipline of the people and create a bad image for the country. Any person found to violate the Decree shall be slapped with conviction, a fine of not more than P20,000 and/or by a maximum imprisonment of five years.
Tricycle drivers in this city have often been the butt of complaints of passengers due to overcharging and refusing to convey them to their destinations. This city has been hailed as the country’s tricycle capital with an estimated 14,000 tricycle units plying this city’s route daily.
