Market Vendors in Aklan Received Fake P1,000 Bills
Several market vendors in Aklan are dealing with losses and worry after falling victim to fake P1,000 bills affecting their small businesses.
One of the incidents involved a senior citizen vendor in Barangay Poblacion, Kalibo, who unknowingly accepted counterfeit money from a customer while doing her usual day of selling.
On January 12, 2026, a man was seen on CCTV entering a small store in the area. He bought a pack of cigarettes and paid a P1,000 bill. After receiving his change, the man quickly left the store.
It was only later that the vendor noticed something was wrong with the money. By the time she realized it was fake, the customer was already gone, leaving her to shoulder the loss.
Another public market vendor, Reynaldo Zonio, experienced the same scheme. He shared that the incident was painful, especially for someone who works hard every day just to earn enough.
Despite this, he was grateful after someone extended help by giving him P3,000 to cover his loss, which lifted his spirits during a difficult moment.
According to police records in Kalibo, three similar cases involving fake P1,000 bills were reported from January 11 to 16, 2026. Authorities noticed a clear pattern. The suspects usually buy cheap items, pay with a fake bill, rush the vendor, and leave right after receiving the change.
Police are now following leads on a person of interest who may be linked to a suspect arrested earlier for a case involving counterfeit money. Similar incidents were also reported in Iloilo City, where a senior citizen vendor discovered the money, she received was fake after it was rejected by another seller.
In another post, a concerned netizen warns public about fake money scam
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