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Saturday, December 13, 2003
Man duped by fake gold bar vendor
By Ria Isidro-de Fiesta
SAN FERNANDO City -- A talent manager from Manila has finally learned that not all friendly faces could be trusted.
This, as a man whom he thought was his friend defrauded him of P100,000 in exchange of a gold bar, which turned out to be fake.
The suspect, identified by police as Roy Ordinario, 45, of San Nicolas 1st, Lubao town, is now at large, while his two cohorts, identified as Rufino Soriano-Buan, of Subic, Olongapo City and Leody Sambil-Herang of Casmor in Mabalacat, are now detained by police.
Victim Albert Ombao-Reyes, 45, a talent manager from Sta. Ana, Manila, said he met Ordinario and his wife Beng Datu-Ordinario, some two months ago at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila.
Reyes said that since then, Ordinario has befriended him and contacted him continually through cell phone.
Last November 9, Reyes said the suspect called him up and said he has found a gold bar underneath his father-in-law's house in Guagua town.
Ordinario claimed he was scared that authorities or lawless elements might find out about the gold bar, and asked Reyes to help him.
They then met at the SM City Pampanga the next day and proceeded to the Bacolor megadike. Once there, Ordinario showed Reyes a gold bar and claimed more were kept under the megadike.
Ordinario then offered Reyes to buy one gold bar for P100,000. Reyes said the suspect told him that he would use the money to vacate his residence, as he was being threatened by the NPA.
On November 13, Reyes and Ordinario went to Ongpin in Binondo to have a sample of the gold bar, which weighed around two grams, appraised. The sample turned out to be genuine.
Before parting ways that day, Ordinario even borrowed P2,500 from Reyes, to buy medicine for his father-in-law who he said has been hospitalized at that time.
They continued to communicate through cell phone, and decided to again meet at Barangay Dolores here for the payment of the said gold bar.
Reyes met with Ordinario, Buan and Herang at the Sicat Auto Repair Shop along GSO Road in Barangay Dolores and said he would buy the gold provided that the suspects accompany him to Ongpin to have the bar appraised.
But Ordinario, after handing Reyes the supposed gold bar which was inside a belt bag, immediately left the area with the money, leaving behind his two cohorts.
Buan and Herang also attempted to leave, but Reyes prevented them, and sought the help of bystanders, as he already speculated that the gold bar was fake.
He then sought the help of police, who immediately apprehended the suspects.
SPO4 Edgardo Balajadia, officer on case, said appropriate charges have already been filed against the two, while Ordinario still remains at large. The police have vowed to conduct follow-up operations to arrest the suspect.
(December 13, 2003 issue)
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