ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Former Pagadian City mayor Samuel Co and his wife Prescilla Ann had expressed hope they would be granted bail, as they pleaded not guilty in the syndicated estafa case filed against them in connection with the multibillion -peso investment scam of the Aman Futures.
Co and his wife arrived in Pagadian City Thursday morning from Manila under tight security provided by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) backed by the military and the police.
The couple, accompanied by their lawyer Percendo Puloyapoy, was brought to the sala of Judge Felix Rodriguez where they entered the not guilty plea.
The Cos filed a motion for bail even as the charges of syndicated estafa is a non-bailable case.
Citing security reason, they asked to be detained at the NBI headquarters in Manila pending resolution of their case.
The couple expressed confidence the charges against them would be dismissed citing lack of evidence.
They stayed overnight at the NBI office in Pagadian and were flown back to Manila Friday morning. They will return to Pagadian for the hearing on April 11 and 12.