12 kilos of fake gold bar seized

STO. TOMAS, La Union — Police operatives here arrested Sunday two persons in the act of selling 12 kilos of fake gold bars with an estimated worth of more than P10 million.

Senior Inspector Diosdado Mejala, the town’s police chief, identified the suspects as Leo Verona, 20, a resident of Cabalitian, Sual, Pangasinan, and Randy Laranang, 25, a resident of Barangay Tubod here.

Mejala told The STAR that the suspects belong to the third group of persons arrested in La Union who are allegedly members of a syndicate engaged in several fake gold transactions in the Ilocos and Cordillera regions.

Mejala said the suspects were caught by a team of policemen led by Inspector Leopoldo Paredes in an entrapment operation at around 6 p.m. on Sunday in Barangay Damortis here.

They were caught selling the fake gold bars to Orlando Valle and Eligio Sapitula.

The complainants said the suspects initially showed them a sample of real gold pieces so they agreed to buy some P250,000 worth of gold bars.

However, due to suspicions triggered by the actions of the suspects, the complainants tipped off policemen on the transaction.

The suspects are now detained at the District Jail in Agoo, La Union after police filed criminal charges against them at the Regional Trial Court in Agoo.