- Advertisement -

By JOEY NACALABAN
and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents .

POLICE arrested a man as they uncovered a crime syndicate specializing in forging school and all sorts of public documents during an operation in downtown Cagayan de Oro on Monday.

- Advertisement -

Chief Insp. Julius Clark Macariola, Divisoria police chief, identified the arrested suspect as Albert Sarmiento, 42, of Macanhan, Carmen, this city.

Authorities filed a complaint for falsification of documents against Sarmiento and at least two others yesterday. Police said Sarmiento served as the group’s stamp maker.

Police said Sarmiento was arrested in an entrapment carried out at around 11:30 am Monday at a shop on Velez-Gomez streets.

Investigators said Sarmiento named at least two of his alleged cohorts: Mario Ampoon and Gina Salduha.

Police failed to catch any of the two in a  follow-up operation.

Investigators said Sarmiento confessed to being  the “runner” of Salduha and Ampoon who, according to Macariola, are believed to be in hiding in the city.

Macariola said police seized during the entrapment forged documents, including fake diplomas, and a P1,100-marked money.

Seized were three fake Cagayan de Oro College-Phinma diplomas, two fake Capitol University diplomas, two fake Bartolome Lira Sr. National High School diplomas, a fake Nonongan High School diploma, a fake Lourdes College diploma, and two fake Arsenio Quibranza National High School diplomas.

Macariola said police also seized forged University  of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines transcript of records, two fake Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School documents, a fake Cagayan de Oro City Police Office clearance, two fake Barangay Indahag clearance, a fake certificate of baptism, a fake Technical Education and Skills Development Authority certificate, and a fake city civil registry birth certificate.

There were more. As police searched the shop, they stumbled on three fake marriage certificates, a forged Social Security System identification card, a fake temporary license to exercise security profession, and an original copy of the Coast Guard Education and Training Command certificate of completion.

Police seized a typewriter believed to have been used in the forgeries and a mobile phone.

Macariola said Sarmiento’s arrest came after the police received a tip from an informant about the illegal activities of the group.

“Mao tong naghimo dayon mi og aksyon. Usa sa among kauban nag-pose as client to verify whether ang report tinood. Mao tong kagahapon amo nang gihimo ang raid,” Macariola said.

Macariola also called on city hall, schools and government offices whose documents were forged to file cases.

Sarmiento has been placed under detention at the Maharlika headquarters.

Disclaimer

Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.

- Advertisement -