Amended charges lodged vs. counterfeiting suspects

The government prosecution has leveled new charges against five of the seven defendants facing US currency counterfeiting raps before the US District Court.

But the group of two men and three women, all citizens of the Philippines, yesterday maintained innocence, claiming no knowledge that the money they carried to US soil last Jan. 24, 2001 were bogus.

The jury trial for the five foreign nationals has been set for June 11.

In the meantime, the federal court also handed yesterday its blessing to allow defense attorneys in the pending US currency counterfeiting case to depose suspected perpetrator Emma R. Cabigting, an individual currently based in the Philippines.

District Judge Alex R. Munson granted the request to send three court-appointed lawyers of the six counterfeiting defendants off-island provided the defense can assure the federal court that Philippine prison officials will allow the suspect to be interviewed.

Ms. Cabigting since March 13 this year was remanded to Philippine police custody, arrested for Estafa and Syndicated Illegal Recruitment charges, with no bail recommended.

Federal attorneys also intend to go after the suspect, who is believed to have supplied the counterfeit US dollars to seven individuals who arrived on Saipan from the Philippines last January 2001. The group has been indicted in the federal court for conspiracy to commit counterfeiting.

The government prosecution is also steadfastly acting to charge Ms. Cabigting of illegal recruitment in absentia in case she gets a lesser sentence in Philippine courts.

The suspect is now being held at the National Bureau of Investigation Jail in Manila. She is reportedly expressed willingness to attest that the defendants were unaware the money they received from the recruiter was fake.

The defendants arrived on Saipan early this year as tourists when they were discovered by immigration officials to be in possession of counterfeit greenback.

They were then charged with counterfeiting before the Superior Court.

Last March 7, 2001, the group was indicted by the federal grand jury with the same charges, pleading not guilty to the accusations.

The six standing trial for counterfeiting include Rolando Hilongo Lambio, Nelia Baradi Florendo, Archie Barnatcha Macapagal, Ronalia De Guzman Navarro, and Thelma Loqueno Tejano.