Cops move to prevent violence

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Police have intensified security measures in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur to prevent violent acts that may be carried out by victims of an investment scam.

Reports said certain victims of the Aman Futures Group Philippines Inc. were arming themselves apparently in preparation for going after the suspected swindlers.

“Checkpoints and chokepoints in Pagadian have been set up and are operating on a 24-hour basis,” police regional director Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles said. 

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed a complaint for syndicated estafa against Malaysian Manuel Amalilio and his alleged Filipino cohorts Fernando Luna, Lelian Lim-Gan, Eduard Lim, William Fuentes, Naezelle Rodriguez and Lurix Lopez.

A former Zamboanga del Sur board member, who was also victimized by the group, said people seen to have come upon wealth recently, even if not involved in the scam, might be suspected of having gained from Aman’s operation and could be targeted.

“You cannot be seen with a new property because those who were scammed would think you profited from it. However, the people here can still hold on to their sanity and are expecting that they can get justice,” the official said.

The official also confirmed that Anwar Alvin Zainal, who was killed Tuesday, was identified as an Aman factotum and believed the killing had something to do with the scam.

The police director said they were also conducting investigation in coordination with the NBI in the areas to gather more evidence for the filing of charges.

Roxas wants police on their toes

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas ordered the police to be on alert for probable rise in petty crimes in Mindanao in connection with the multibillion-peso pyramiding scam.

Roxas expressed belief that the recent burning of houses and killing of Zainal could be related to the scam in parts of Mindanao.

“It appears since the houses were owned by people who are connected (to the company), it’s a reasonable linkage. There were retaliations. The PNP is alert to this. We are intensifying our presence to make sure that additional harm does not come to the community,” he said.

Zainal, owner of Security Pacific Insurance based in Pagadian City, is also known to be an incorporator of Aman Futures Group Philippines Inc. and allegedly collected from unregistered members.

Estilles said they have yet to confirm if Zainal’s murder was connected to the scam, with initial information indicating that the killing was related to illegal drugs.

There were also reports that some receipts, purportedly from Aman, were recovered from his body.

Police are also investigating the burning of the house of Fernando Luna Sr., father of one of Amalilio’s trusted men.

“We are checking if the fire was an accident or it was arson related to the scam,” Estilles said.-  Cecille Suerte Felipea