2 arrested for selling fake gold to overseas worker

CEBU, Philippines - Two men were arrested by police for selling a fake gold bar to an overseas Filipino worker past noon the other day in barangay Talamban.

Restituto Tabal, a resident of barangay Guba, was allegedly victimized by his cousin Roselo Requinto and the latter’s friend, Rex Bracero, of sitio Pooc, Talisay City.

Tabal, who sought the help of Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office, said in his affidavit that he gave P115,000 to Requinto and Bracero last Thursday noon in partial payment of the gold bar said to be worth P1 million.

Bracero showed Tabal the alleged gold bar last Thursday noon after he was allegedly picked up by Requinto, who arrived at Tabal’s residence last Wednesday evening and told him about his friend.

After telling the victim that the six-kilo gold bar was worth P1 million, Bracero broke off a little portion of the gold bar and they went to a pawnshop to have it examined.

After pawnshop personnel confirmed it was indeed genuine gold Tabal then agreed to pay a partial payment of P50,000. Police surmise the suspects attached a piece of genuine gold to the fake gold bar.

“Bracero asked who will pay the remaining balance. I told him that my sister is about to arrive at 11 a.m. Maybe she will share with me so that we can pay the full amount of the alleged gold bar,” Tabal said in his affidavit.

After telling him that the gold bar will be given to him only after he pays the full amount, the two suspects left, but to the victim’s surprise, the two returned to ask for an additional down payment of P65,000. Since he trusted the two he gave them the said amount to the suspects who promised to return at noon.

After the two failed to show, the victim realized he had been defrauded and reported the incident to the police. His brother later called him to say he saw Requinto in one of the eateries in their neighborhood.

Requinto was then arrested but refused to comment where the money was. He told the police that Bracero was in Pooc, Talisay.

Bracero was arrested and alleged that the money was already given to a certain Jerry Mariquit who also had the fake gold bar.

A charge for estafa was then filed against the two suspects after the victim filed a complaint. The suspects are now detained at the CCPO stockade while Mariquit is still at large. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)