Cop, ex-Navy man caught; treasure hunt in Lorega?

A police officer and a former Navy man were arrested yesterday by police in barangay Lorega, San Miguel in Cebu City after residents claimed they were part of a group responsible for excavating for rumored Japanese treasure in the village’s old cemetery.

Arrested were  PO3 Noel Monares, who is assigned at the Regional Intelligence Division (RID), and Romy Ahong, a former Philippine Navy man.

They were turned over to the barangay hall for questioning by PNP member s of the Special Weapons and Tactics team.

Some residents said Monares and Ahong served as escorts of four men engaged in in treasure-hunting in the old cemetery. A hole 12 feet deep was found.

Witnesses said four men had a metal detector  and dug  deep in the ground to look for Japanese gold supposedly left after World War II.  Their identities remain a mystery.

Lorega San Miguel barangay captain Fritsgerald Herrera said such claims  were unverified.

Herrera said no permit was issued by his office and anyone looking for treasure at the old cemetery would  have to answer to him.

Monares and Ahong  were eventually released since  no incriminating evidence was found in their possession.

Herrera said the men denied they were engaged in treasure hunting.  They said they were in the neighborhood to visit a friend.

Monares refused to be talk to reporters. /Correspondent Chito Aragon