Manila (AsiaNews) - With the ongoing campaign for the May 10th Philippine national elections, not only campaign leaflets are circulating among the people, but counterfeit money as well. Archbishop Oscar Cruz warned the public after his parishioners went to him about the dubious issue: "One thousand peso specimen bills from the Central Bank are now circulating in Pangasinan (his Archdiocese). The same could be likewise true in other provinces." he said in a statement sent to the Bishops' Conference media office. "The bills have all the appearance of being legal tender."
A normal person would not be able to recognize the falsity. The fake money is already in circulation among schools, stores, and market vendors. The only way to determine the authenticity of the money is to hold it against the light. When brought to the banks the bills are rejected.
"How could these bills-no less from the Central Bank-reach the innocent public? How could their serial numbers be expertly changed? Has this disturbing phenomenon something to do with the election spendings?" Archbishop Cruz probed.
Literally buying or selling a person's vote-and using fake money to do it- is a "sad episode in the country today" Archbishop Cruz stated. "It is not enough that poverty is pervasive. Neither is it sufficient that work is scarce. Now there is this curse of spurious bills in the biggest denomination, causing public harm and apprehension."
It is estimated that a presidential candidate spends about 1.8 billion pesos (around 25.7 million Euro) during the 3 -month campaign period from February to May. The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism estimates that about a third of this is allocated for 'media mileage', or 'payola'- money given directly to reporters and editors.
"Unless this serious problem is immediately resolved, until those responsible for it are placed behind bars, it is possible that every one thousand peso bill becomes suspect." said the Archbishop. "And this definitely is not funny!" (S.E.)
