3 armed men nabbed for fake gold bar racket in Davao

DAVAO CITY — Three armed men suspected of involvement in a fake gold bar syndicate were arrested by police here on Wednesday.

Three handguns and a counterfeit gold brick were seized from Santos Saiwan, 53; Robert Tomas and Ryan Ambin of Marilog district here during an entrapment operation at Sitio Kibangan, Marilog proper at 2:30 p.m., Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, Davao City-CIDG head, said.

Driz said the operation was prompted by complaints from one Merlina Maer of Taytay, Rizal, the supposed buyer of the bogus gold bullion.

Also recovered during the operation were bundles of marked fake P500 money used in the dragnet.

Driz said the suspects were members of a gang involved in armed robberies, swindling and gunrunning in Davao del Sur and nearby areas.

She said the suspects were in police custody as charges were being readied against them.