Stapling money is against the law


Stapling money money is against Philippine laws. Doing so is equivalent to defacing or mutilating money.

Although arrest or imprisonment of those who do this is not common, there are adverse effects of this behavior that we should keep in mind. When money is defaced or mutilated, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BPS) shreds affected bills and replaces them with new ones. In fact, the BSP regularly replaces old or mutilated bills but ruining money on purpose forces the BSP to put out more new bills. This means more cost to the BSP. The same is true for writing on or putting stamp marks on money. Let us keep our money clean. SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1337521046342747/permalink/1838897312871782/
A currency note shall be considered unfit for circulation when:

a. It contains heavy creases which break the fiber of the paper and indicate that disintegration has begun. Provided, however, that mere creasing or wrinkling which has not broken nor weakened the note does not render the note unfit for circulation; or
b. It is badly soiled/contaminated and/or with writings even if it has proper life or sizing; or
c. It presents a limp or rag-like appearance.

A currency note shall be considered mutilated when:

a. Torn parts of banknotes are joined together with adhesive tape in a manner which tries to preserve as nearly as possible the original design and size of the note; or
b. The original size of the note has been reduced/lost through wear and tear or has been otherwise torn, damaged, defaced or perforated through action of insects, chemicals or other causes; or
c. It is scorched or burned to such an extent that although recognizable as such, it has become frail and brittle as to render further handling thereof impossible without disintegration or breaking; or
d. It is split edgewise; or
e. It has lost all the signatures inscribed thereon.

A currency coin shall be considered unfit for circulation when:

a. It is bent or twisted out of shape or defaced, but its genuineness and/or denomination can still be readily and clearly determined/identified; or
b. It has been considerably reduced in weight by natural abrasion/wear and tear.

A currency coin shall be considered mutilated when:

a. It shows signs of filing, clipping or perforation; or
b. It shows signs of having been burned or has been so defaced, that its genuineness and/or denomination cannot be readily and clearly identified.

Currency notes and coins considered unfit for circulation shall not be re-circulated, but may be presented for exchange to or deposited with any bank. SOURCE: http://www.bsp.gov.ph/bspnotes/clean_note_policy.asp