CDN Digital Photo / Mary Rose Sagarino
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu – A woman from Cebu City was arrested for allegedly facilitating the issuance and sales of ‘fake’ government identification cards, including a fake driver’s license.
Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation Cebu District Office (NBI-CEBDO) arrested Gia Fernandez Genelazo, a resident of Cebu City, in an entrapment operation on Wednesday, October 11.
Genelazo was arrested after she handed the ‘fake’ LTO non-professional driver’s license and received the cash payment from NBI’s pursuer applicant in Barangay Centro, Mandaue City.
Incidentally during her arrest, she was found to also possess several other fake government IDs. These included five GSIS UMID card, five National Identification cards, three Postal IDs, two BIR Tax TIN cards, a PhilHealth ID, and a Social Security System ID.
Agents also recovered from her possession the marked money worth P1,600 that was used during the entrapment operation and the motorcycle that she uses to deliver the fake IDs to her clients.
In a press conference on Thursday, Oct. 12, Arnel Pura, the agent in-charge of NBI CEBDO, said that Genelazo’s clients transact with her online using a social media page. Cash payment is made upon delivery.
Fake IDs from Bulacan?
Pura said they learned that the fake government IDs were sent to Cebu from Bulacan based on the addressed that was written on the package that they recovered.
With this, they are now coordinating with their counterparts in Bulacan to trace the sender of the fake IDs.
According to Pura, the fake IDs are sold at P1, 500 each.
He suspects that the individuals, who opted to avail of the fake IDs, did not want to undergo the usual process of securing government IDs. Securing a fake driver’s license, for example, was much cheaper compared to getting an authentic driver’s license from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) that would normally cost P8,000 to P12,000.
Falsification of public documents
With her arrest, Pura said that Genelazo, who is currently detained at the NBI-CEBDO detention facility, would be facing multiple charges for the falsification of public documents.
Pura said they are now securing certifications from concerned government agencies to signify that the IDs confiscated from the suspect’s possession were fake. They would also use these as additional attachment to the complaints that they would soon file against her.
CDN Digital tried to get Genelazo’s statement, but she refused.
“If proven [guilty], ang imprisonment 6 to 8 years for one count, [sa] usa ka ID. Kani 17, [so,] 17 counts pero naa man nay plea bargaining,” said Pura.
Moreover, Pura said that Genelazo’s clients may also face charges for the falsification of public documents. The confiscated IDs were also subjected to verification to properly identify the individuals whose names and pictures appear on these.
“I suggest to the public do not cut corners, kung unsa gyuy procedure sa agency, i-follow gyud nato because there will be consequence in the future, especially those who profit out of this,” said Pura. / dcb
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