LUCENA CITY –– Police arrested a suspected seller of fake gold in an entrapment operation in San Andres town in Quezon province on Wednesday, Jan. 27.
Lt. Rodelo Panapanaan Jr., San Andres police chief, said Joven Alcantara, 49, a resident of Bacoor City in Cavite, was arrested after the latter sold a fake “golden buddha” for P3,000 to town Councilor Edgar Lingahan in an entrapment operation in Barangay Pansoy around 3 p.m.
Panapanaan said Lingahan informed the police station earlier of his plan to entrap the suspect after receiving complaints from some villagers duped by Alcantara.
The police official said Alcantara arrived in the locality several weeks ago and visited a townmate.
“A sweet talker, he was able to convince a villager that gold was buried near the house. Then he asked permission to dig the supposed treasure only by himself,” Panapanaan said in a phone interview.
After a couple of days, the suspect showed pieces of gold items that he allegedly dug, to his potential victims, who were tricked to buy, the police narrated.
At least 12 of Alcantara’s victims have filed criminal complaints against the suspect, who was detained at the police jail.