Palace welcomes Malaysia’s promise to turn over Amalilio

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang welcomed yesterday Malaysia’s pronouncement that it was working for the early turnover to Philippine authorities of suspected scam leader Manuel Amalilio.

 â€œWe welcome that statement. I understand that was conveyed by the Malaysian foreign minister to our secretary of foreign affairs, our DOJ (Department of Justice), and members of the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) as well,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio dzRB.

Amalilio is facing charges for allegedly duping some 15,000 middle-class workers from Mindanao and the Visayas to invest their hard-earned money in his investment firm Aman Futures Group, Inc.

He allegedly promised to double their money within a short period of time, but failed to do so. The investment has reportedly amounted to P12 billion.

Valte said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) would continue to work with their Malaysian counterparts to ensure the turnover of Amalilio to Philippine authorities.

She also urged scam victims not to lose hope because the government is doing everything to bring him back to the country to face trial.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman had told the DFA that he was strongly advocating the early turnover of Amalilio to the Philippine government.

The DFA said the foreign minister also confirmed to Secretary Albert del Rosario the order of the Malaysian attorney general to freeze the suspect’s assets in Malaysia.

Amalilio, whose Malaysian name is Mohammad Suffan Saaid, was arrested last January in Kota Kinabalu for possession of a fake Philippine passport.

He was subsequently sentenced to two years in a Malaysian jail after pleading guilty to the offense.