The Central Bank of the Philippines (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, BSP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) filed criminal complaints against six individuals accused of willfully destroying Philippine coins, following separate entrapment operations in Siquijor and Boracay in Aklan. The complaints were lodged by the BSP’s Payments and Currency Investigation Group and the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group before the Siquijor Provincial Prosecutor’s Office and the Aklan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. The suspects include an individual known as “Jess”, who went viral for turning a PHP 10 coin into a ring, and another person apprehended for the same activity in Boracay. The BSP cited Presidential Decree No. 247, which makes the willful defacement, mutilation, tearing, burning, or destruction of Philippine banknotes and coins punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment and or a fine of up to PHP 20,000.
Central Bank of the Philippines 2025-02-03
Central Bank of the Philippines and Philippine National Police file criminal complaints against six individuals for willful coin mutilation
The Central Bank of the Philippines (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, BSP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) filed criminal complaints against six individuals for willfully destroying Philippine coins. The complaints, based on entrapment operations in Siquijor and Boracay, were lodged with local prosecutors. The BSP referenced Presidential Decree No. 247, which penalizes the defacement or destruction of currency with imprisonment and fines.