By PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

Joint elements the Philippine National Police (PNP) Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and Manila Police District (MPD) raided a row of commercial establishments in Quiapo, Manila, believed to be producing fake government documents, including diplomas, car registration papers and driver’s licenses, the PNP said Wednesday.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz said the police operatives swooped down on the entire stretch of Claro M. Recto Avenue (formerly Azcarraga Avenue) in Quiapo, Manila at 3 p.m. to seize computers, scanners and printers reportedly duplicating the documents which could pass as authentic.

Cruz said the five persons arrested during the raid were identified as Tirso Revilla, 43; Yasmine Tusoy, 22; Francisco Abelia Jr., 52; Ronnie Flores, 42; and Rommel Catanes, 26. They are now detained at the HPG-National Capital Region (NCR) in Camp Crame, Quezon City for further investigation.

Initial investigation disclosed that the suspects were nabbed during an entrapment operation conducted by agents of the HPG-National Capital Region and Manila Police District.

HPG reports said that the syndicate members were involved in the manufacture of fake Land Transportation Office (LTO) driver’s license, PNP identification cards, Social Security System (SSS) cards, Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence and other government documents.

Cruz said the raiding team also found several fake LTO official receipts used in car registration.

C.M. Recto Avenue, also known as “Recto University”, has become notorious due to the commercial stalls illegally set up over there for producing and selling fake documents such as birth certificates, diploma and identification cards.

A diploma from an exclusive university can be had for only P250 a piece while an ID card of a government office has a going rate of P500.