(Photo from NCRPO)
Marcel Wenong Tezock, 40 years old, was arrested in his condominium unit in Mandaluyong City on October 24, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.
(Photo from NCRPO)
Arrested with Tezock was his live-in partner, Kuhle Nkomo, a 25-year-old Zimbabwean.
Tezock was served a warrant of arrest for estafa, and bundles of counterfeit US dollars and Philippine peso bills were surprisingly found in his rented unit, placed on top of his microwave oven and kitchen cabinet.
"Upon closer inspection, it was determined that the bills were printed in four pieces on a single sheet of paper, confirming their counterfeit nature. The counterfeit bills were subsequently confiscated," said Police Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia, NCRPO director.
Agents from the Payments and Currency Investigation Group (PCIG) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) confirmed that the bills seized from Tezock's unit were indeed fake.
Tezock had posted bail for his previous arrests in Taguig City for swindling violation on December 16, 2022, and coercion on March 9, 2024, in Makati City, making him free to be arrested again by the authorities recently.
Hernia also warned of the potential spread of counterfeit money, especially with Christmas and the elections approaching.
He advised the public to use the "Feel-Look-Tilt" method to verify the security features of new generation currency banknotes that criminals could potentially counterfeit.
