CLAIM: A social media post claimed that there is a new P150 banknote featuring Jose Rizal.
“Bagong pera na mahahawakan natin at gagamitin sa araw araw ay nakaka panibago na ibibili natin sa ating pang araw araw na pangangailangan dahil ang P150 na halaga ay perang papel na rin,” the Facebook post reads.
It also showed other banknotes with values of P5,000, P1,000, P500, and a P100 coin.
The P500 bill also showed an image of a tarsier, instead of former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino.
RATING: The P150 banknote featuring Jose Rizal is fake.
Facts
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said it did not release a P150 banknote featuring Jose Rizal.
“Images of the said banknote circulating on social media are fictitious,” BSP said in a Facebook post.
Meanwhile, the P500 bill featuring a tarsier is also fake. Interaksyon and Philstar.com previously fact-checked this.
RELATED: Fake: P500 polymer banknote featuring Philippine tarsier design
The P100 coin, on the other hand, is legitimate. However, it should be noted that this is only a commemorative coin, which was produced in 2017 in limited quantities.
RELATED: Fact check: Did Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas release a P100 coin?
Like the P100 coin in the photo, the P5,000 bill featuring Lapu-Lapu is a commemorative banknote. This banknote launched in 2021 is a legal tender but classified as “non-circulation.”
RELATED: Commemorative P5,000 Lapu-Lapu banknote includes historical details, sketches
To verify the legitimacy of Philippine banknotes and coins, the public may visit the Notes and Coins section of the BSP’s official website www.bsp.gov.ph.
The central bank also urged the public to report persons involved in the manufacturing and/or distribution of counterfeit Philippine currency.
They may reach the BSP Payments and Currency Investigation Group through the following contact information:
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone numbers: +63-2-8988-4833 and +63-2-8926-5092.
Why it matters
The Facebook post showing the fake P150 bill and other banknotes gained more than 358 reactions, 93 comments, and over 1,100 shares, as of press time.
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This story is part of the Philippine Fact-check Incubator, an Internews initiative to build the fact-checking capacity of news organizations in the Philippines and encourage participation in global fact-checking efforts.
Interaksyon is part of #FactsFirstPH, a multi-sectoral initiative promoting truth in public space and demanding accountability for falsehoods. For those interested to join the initiative, email [email protected]
Interaksyon is also a founding partner of Tsek.ph, a collaborative fact-checking project for the 2022 Philippine elections. It is an initiative of academe, civil society groups and media to counter disinformation and provide the public with verified information.
