Palace admits setback but vows to bring back Amalilio

MANILA, Philippines - The government admitted yesterday that the conviction and detention in Malaysia of wanted pyramiding scam boss Manuel Amalilio would delay efforts to bring him back to Manila to answer the charges filed by at least 15,000 victims of his “double your money” scheme.

However, Malacañang gave assurance that it would do everything so Amalilio would face trial in the Philippines.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Amalilio’s two-year prison term in Malaysia is a setback in the quest for justice of those duped into investing their hard-earned money in Aman Futures.

She said the government would have to respect the decision of the Malaysian court.

“I wish to underscore that our government respects the laws, legal processes and legal system of our ASEAN neighbor, Malaysia,” she said in a statement.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Amalilio’s sentence did not necessarily mean that he would no longer face the law here.

Valte said efforts would be continued to make sure there would be “a fitting end to this story.” She said the government respects the legal process, not just of Malaysia, but also of other countries that we have ties with.

The Palace official said Amalilio’s detention would not deter the government from bringing him back to the country.

Amalilio was convicted Monday by the Magistrate’s Court in Kota Kinabalu for possession of a fake passport.

De Lima said the government does not intend to question now, or in the future, Malaysia’s process and system in convicting him.

This way, she said, the DOJ expects the Malaysian government to likewise respect “our own aspiration for justice to be given to those who have been aggrieved and disadvantaged by the alleged criminal acts for which Amalilio must answer under our own laws, processes and legal system.”

She assured victims of the P12-billion investment scam that the DOJ continues to explore, and exhaust, all available and reasonable means to bring the suspect before the bar of justice in the country. She expressed belief that such setback is only temporary.

“Our lines with our counterparts in the Malaysian government remain open. We shall count on the goodwill we have with them so that a solution can be reached,” she said.

In the absence of Amalilio, who was ordered arrested last Jan. 11 by a Pagadian City court, the syndicated estafa case against him would not proceed due to lack of arraignment proceedings that requires personal appearance of the accused in court.

Aman execs seek transfer of custody

The arraignment for other Aman executives accused along with Amalilio -- Fernando Luna, Leila Lim Gan, Eduard Lim, Willanie Fuentes, Naezelle Rodriguez and Lurix Lopez -- was stalled due a pending motion seeking for their transfer to the NBI in Manila instead of the Pagadian City jail as ordered in the arrest warrants.

Last Tuesday, the respondents’ case has reached the Supreme Court (SC) in view of Luna’s motion to transfer custody citing imminent danger to his life.

He said some disgruntled investors burned his parents’ home in Zamboanga del Sur and looted his house in Pagadian City. He said the Pagadian City Jail is not safe for them because some prisoners are relatives of the scam victims.

No arraignment yet for Rasuman

 A ruling by a Cagayan de Oro court has affected Friday’s arraignment proceedings for another suspected financial scam leader Jachob “Coco” Rasuman.

 In a resolution signed Feb. 5 but released only yesterday, Judge Vincent Rosales, of RTC branch 23, ruled in favor of a motion filed by lawyer Alejandro Jose Pallugna.

 Pallugna, counsel for Rasuman’s wife Princess Aliah Tomawis, and his father-in-law Sultan Yahya Jerry Tomawis, has sought for the consolidation of the charges filed against his clients who are facing syndicated estafa cases along with the suspected scam leader.

 The ruling resulted in the transfer of Rasuman’s cases from Rosales’ sala to Judge Bonifacio Macabaya, of RTC-branch 20.

 With the consolidation, Rasuman’s Feb. 8 arraignment as scheduled by Rosales will no longer push through, while Macabaya has yet to set a new date for the arraignment.

 The prosecution opposed the defense’s motion saying the case involved different complainants, which might delay the administration of justice.

 However, state prosecutor Jaime Umpa said they have to abide by the court’s decision. He said the consolidation does not guarantee a speedy trial of the Rasuman case.

Umpa said they have yet to be informed of the new arraignment schedule of Rasuman. – With Sandy Araneta, Jigger Jerusalem