A scrap gold buyer was arrested after allegedly tricking a 75-year-old woman into exchanging her gold ring with a fake one in Leganes, Iloilo.

Police said the first incident happened on Friday, July 31, 2026, in Barangay Calaboa, Leganes. CCTV footage showed a man in a helmet talking to 75-year-old Susana Licera outside her home. The man reportedly offered to buy her ring.

While pretending to inspect the jewelry, the suspect allegedly switched the victim's gold ring with a fake one before leaving the area.

"Sabi ko, bakit, ang singsing ko ibalik. Pagbalik niya sa akin, sabi ko iba ang ibinalik niya. Umalis na siya kaagad," Licera said.

The elderly woman tried to chase the suspect but he escaped on a motorcycle.

Police identified the suspect as alias Emilio, 57, a scrap gold buyer. Investigators said the victim lost a ring worth about P13,000 through the deception.

"Ma'am, parang gold 'yang hawak mo. Kinuha niya, parang swinitch niya ang singsing, ang orig na singsing ng matanda sa pekeng singsing," Lt. Herald Quiambao, deputy chief of the Leganes Municipal Police Station, said.

Authorities tracked the suspect through CCTV footage and the motorcycle's license plate. He was arrested at his home in the town of Santa Barbara.

Police said the suspect admitted the crime and returned the original ring.

"Badly needed lang, Ma'am. May binibilhan ako ng gatas," the suspect said.

The suspect was taken into police custody but the victim decided later not to file a complaint.

In a separate incident, CCTV footage taken before dawn on July 31 in Barangay Naluoyan, Dumangas showed a man sleeping outside a convenience store after he allegedly became intoxicated.

Moments later, another man in a helmet approached and allegedly took more than P8,000 from the sleeping man's pocket.

According to the store owner, who declined to appear on camera, the victim works at the Dumangas Port. The identity of the suspect remains unknown.

Police said the incident was never reported to the Dumangas Municipal Police Station. They reminded the public to report similar crimes immediately so authorities can investigate them.