BSP files complaint against netizen who burned a P20 bill on Tiktok

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has charged a netizen who burned a P20 bill on the social media app TikTok.

The TikTok video, which has been taken down by the owner, showed the man burning a P20 bill before using it to light up a bottle of gin. “Oo gin lang kame pero legit,” the netizen wrote. The video was then re-uploaded by netizens on Tiktok. 

@dontbefooled3 The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) warns the public that the willful defacement, mutilation, tearing, burning or destruction of Philippine banknotes and coins are punishable by a fine of not more than PHP20,000.00 and/or imprisonment of not more than five years, under Presidential Decree No. 247. #burningmoney #fyp #zxycba ♬ Se Acabo Remix - Orlisz F'brianno

In a report from GMA-7’s 24 Oras, the BSP said the netizen has violated Presidential Decree No. 247 which bans “defacing, mutilating, tearing, or partially burning or destroying our currency by any means.”

Violators will then have to pay a fine of not more than P20,000 and/or by “imprisonment of not more than five years.” 

“‘Yung corresponding bank note and then ‘yung coin is pagmamay-ari ng Republika ng Pilipinas. Naka-receive siya ng maraming backlash from the public, pi-null out niya agad,” said BSP senior investigation officer Atty. Mark Fajardo.

The netizen has already been identified by the BSP and corresponding authorities, according to GMA-7. 

The BSP also filed a complaint against the video uploader for violating Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code against unlawful aggression and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2022.