Suspected forgers held for selling fake NBI papers

Now they’ve grown even bolder.

Enterprising forgers have expanded their operations to include the manufacture of fake National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), police and tax clearances.

NBI arrested in an entrapment operation late Monday afternoon three persons allegedly engaged in the printing and sale of fake bureau and police clearances as well as Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) clearances in Manila’s Quiapo district.

A strip in the district, often referred to as “Recto University,” has gained notoriety following the discovery of manufactured fake school diplomas and other documents later sold to a growing clientele.

NBI Counter Intelligence Division (CID) agent-on-case Charles Veloso identified the suspects as Len Balagtas, Efren Dabucol and Daniel Beato, employees of Shane Neal General Merchandise along Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo.

The store specializes in making picture frames and printing invitations.

An informant, who stumbled into the illegal activity, tipped the police about the operation.

An entrapment operation was planned, with a poseur-buyer sent to purchase a fake clearance from the store.

Veloso said the three suspects, who were found with the fake NBI clearances, remain in the custody of the bureau pending the filing of charges of falsification of public documents against them.

The bogus bureau clearances bore the NBI logo as well as the signature of agency director Magtanggol Gatdula and are sold at P100 apiece, cheaper by P15 than the genuine documents.