Real charges up vs fake army with fake govt checks
A senior citizen, or so one of his many identification cards stated, is now behind bars in San Jose, Province of Antique and faces charges for trying to con local businessmen here. Verification is underway if said suspect is also the same con man who operated with two other accomplices in the Province of Guimaras and in Jaro District, Iloilo City about a month ago.
Invited for questioning by authorities last Sunday, Arvy Vargas of Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City was eventually hurled inside the San Jose lock-up cell following the discovery of at least 5 IDs and suspected fake government checks in his possession.
In a report, The News Today (TNT) learned that Vargas first raised doubts of a furniture store owner when he tried to pay using a Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) check for a planned purchase here. The LBP check amounted to P8,600 and payable to one army soldier, Master Sergeant Reynaldo Hernandez. Vargas showed an army-issued ID with his picture in it however the furniture shop owner decided to call the police.
Further check of Vargas' possession then revealed the rest of his many identities including several other LBP checks all within P8,000 range and above. When confronted by the San Jose operatives, Vargas owned up to the fake IDs saying he made it all up to encash the checks. Yet he insists on not violating the law, TNT learned, saying he was into the buy and sell trade with the checks paid to him by his customers.
First among the IDs showed by Vargas was a Senior Citizen card with given address of 7th Street, Bacolod City. Two other IDs had him as army soldier MSgt. Hernandez and Staff Sergeant Reynaldo Valdez. Yet another check and corresponding ID bore "Antonio Dilag" as payee.
A similar modus operandi was reported last month in the island-province of Guimaras where a grocery store owner called on the police for the LBP left by the supposed customer. An attempt was made to encash the check but when asked for valid identification, the woman and male companion hurriedly left the premises. The LBP check was also in the amount of P8,600.
In Jaro District, police also worked on identifying the couple with LBP checks and attempted to transact in a mini-grocery store.