Clifford Susana Arcilla of Barangay Talamban, Cebu City, was arrested Monday, Aug. 30, for “faking” Covid vaccination cards from Mandaue City. (Benjie Talisic)
Police operatives in Cebu City apprehended in an entrapment operation Monday an alleged Covid vaccination card counterfeiter.
The suspect was identified as a certain Clifford Susana Arcilla, 46, and resident of Barangay Talmaban, Cebu City.
Police Lieutenant Albe Codilla, deputy commander of the Carbon Police Station said they received a report of a man selling fake vaccine cards in downtown Cebu City.
Intelligence operatives immediately checked the area and chanced upon Arcilla, owner of Jill and Kate Studio and Print Shop, along Sanciangko Street, Brgy. Kalubihan, who was offering a fake vaccination card for P450 each.
The intelligence operative was asked to fill up a form and to come back after an hour to retrieve the card.
Codilla said upon payment, the suspect was immediately arrested. He is now in police custody.
Recovered from Arcilla were two fake vaccination cards, a laminating machine, and the entrapment money of P500.
The police said Arcilla will face charges of falsification of public documents along with those who helped the suspect print the fake cards.
“If we fake the vaccination cards, they can claim to be fully vaccinated and presumed safe. But they pose a threat to the community and to themselves,” Codilla said in a mix of English and Cebuano.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the Committee on Public Order and Safety clarified that the design of the fake cards from Arcilla are not from the city but the neighboring Mandaue City.
Tumulak said, aside from the unique vaccination lot and card serial number, it is difficult to reproduce vaccination cards from Cebu City because it also has a QR code per person and can be easily verified by authorities.
He urged other localities to include security features in their vaccination cards to deter counterfeits. – Ryan Sorote