Fake jewelry found at pawnshop

CEBU, Philippines - Fake pieces of jewelry amounting to about P263,000 were discovered among other items forfeited from a pawnshop in Barangay Poblacion, Argao during a surprise inventory last Saturday. 

The surprise inventory was made together with personnel from the pawnshop’s head office after the senior branch appraiser allegedly refused to sell several items. Upon interrogation, the appraiser reportedly admitted appraising assorted fake pieces of jewelry since last year.

The FREEMAN is withholding the name of the appraiser pending an internal investigation being conducted by the pawnshop’s legal counsel. The appraiser has been suspended preventively.

Michelle Caminero of Barangay Bogo, a cashier of the pawnshop, and Gittel Cecilia Salahid of Barangay Casay, a branch appraiser, went to the police station yesterday and alleged that they became suspicious when the appraiser refused to bring out several items.

They said all forfeited pawned items will be sold right after the annual item inventory. Both alleged that it was just the appraiser who appraised and pawned all fake pieces of jewelry since October last year.

PO2 Bernie Lao, desk officer at the Argao police, said Caminero and Salahid decided to conduct the inventory to clear their suspicions. — (FREEMAN)