NBI arrests cop, member of fake gold bar gang after brief chase

Two alleged members of a fake gold bar syndicate, including a policeman detailed with the Southern Police District, were arrested yesterday afternoon at the Harrison Plaza Complex along Vito Cruz in Manila, by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation Special Task Force (STF).

The suspects were identified by STF chief Max Salvador as Police Officer 1 Januario Jalandoni, 29, who is reportedly Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL), of Clamena Village, Sucat, Parañaque; and Mateo Dizon 28, of San Mateo, Rizal.

According to Salvador, they received information about the syndicate’s activities from an informant whose Japanese friend was approached by the suspects. NBI agents said the syndicate preyed on unsuspecting Japanese tourists and businessmen.

Salvador said their informant became suspicious of the suspects when they offered a bar of gold, said to be 75 kilos, for just P32 million. According to the informant, a bar of gold of that size should have been priced at around P150 million.

According to the NBI, the glib-tongued suspects convince unsuspecting buyers by showing them a small plastic sachet filled with small gold nuggets.

After a series of negotiations, the informant, as divulged by the NBI, convinced the suspects to meet him at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex to make the deal at around 2:00 p.m.

However, the suspects, who were aboard a blue Toyota Corolla with plate number UAZ-259, apparently detected the NBI agents and sped-off towards the Harrison Plaza Complex. After a short chase, NBI vehicles managed to block the suspects’ car as it was about to enter the shopping center’s parking lot.

Aside from a heavy metal block painted gold, NBI agents also seized a licensed caliber .45 pistol from Jalandoni, who was driving the car. Under interrogation, Jalandoni said five other syndicate members were waiting for them at the Shoe Mart department store inside the shopping complex.

Salvador said they are now tracking down the other syndicate members as criminal charges are being readied against the suspects who are now detained at the NBI detention center.

According to the NBI, the syndicate was previously able to swindle at least two Japanese businessmen or tourists who were lured by the suspects into buying "bargain" gold bars.