3 GOLD BUYERS LOSE P3.3-M TO ROBBERS IN TARLAC

BY KEVIN GALANG

SAN JOSE, Tarlac — Three men on Friday lost some P3.3 million in cash and valuables to a group of robbers at  Sitio Baag, Bgy. Iba, this town.

A report to Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) director Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez identified the victims as Ruben Dizu Gali, 52, a retired members of the Philippine Marines; Hadji Juganas de Guzman, 31; and Mark Olarve, all residents of San Fabian, Pangasinan.

The victims went to Bgy. Iba aboard an Isuzu D-Max pickup truck to purchase gold bars from a contact. 

Upon arrival at the agreed area, they were suddenly approached by around 13 armed men who declared a hold-up.

One of the suspects was identified as “Capu,”  about 50 years old and a resident of Capas, Tarlac, who arranged the meeting with the victims prior to the robbery.

The suspects allegedly took the P3,060,000 cash, mobile phones worth around P200,000, a gold tester valued at P60,000, as well as credit cards, identification cards, and other personal belongings of the victims.

The group fled toward an unknown direction.

Follow-up investigation and manhunt operations are ongoing to identify and arrest the suspects.