Fake gold bar gang falls in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – A syndicate selling fake gold bar and preys on businessmen and foreigners here was busted by the police.

The police reported that on Feb. 14 at the Capitol Compound here, members of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Panga­sinan Police Provincial Office led by Superintendent Rodelio Sam­son conducted an entrapment operation against the syndicate that led to the arrest of suspects Virgilio Marquez alias Ver, of Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya; Felipe Torio, of Barangay Balococ, Marietta Zaplan of Ba­rangay Pangapisan, Precilla Tripa, resident of Barangay Quibaol, all from this town and Roberto Loba­ton, of Sta. Maria, Bulacan who is believed to be the gang’s leader.

Confiscated by the police from the suspects were one piece of fake gold bar weighing 74.6 kilograms with Burma markings estimated by gold appraises to be worth $73 million if the gold bar was genuine, six bank notes of Libya marked Banque Duliban, two counterfeit $100 federal reserve notes, two $1 million certificates, three cellular phones, one Toyota Hi-Ace van with license plates UEP 306 that was used by the gang in their illegal activities and assorted documents for their transactions.

Police investigators said David Israel Zemmertov, an Israeli businessman, and his wife, Cristina, both residents of Barangay Caloocan, Binma­ley, Panga­sinan appeared at the SOG office where the suspects were brought and positively identified the suspects who swindled the couple of P500,000 cash.

Charges of of robbery/extortion and illegal possession of counterfeit bank notes and fake gold bars will be filed against the suspects.  – Eva Visperas