MANILA, Philippines — A total of 38 people allegedly involved in the investment scam that victimized 15,000 people in Visayas and Mindanao are now on the watchlist of the Bureau of Immigration.
Immigration chief Ricardo David Jr. said that he issued a “lookout” bulletin on the 38 persons upon orders of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
David said that the 38 individuals are executives of the Aman Futures Group Philippines, Inc., which is under investigation for collecting at least P12 billion in investment scam from the hundreds of residents of Visayas and Mindanao, including government employees, government officials, soldiers and policemen.
Included in the BI’s lookout bulletin were Manuel Amalilio, founder of Aman Futures Group; Fernando “Nonoy” Luna, Lelian Lim Gan, Eduard L. Lim, William L. Fuentes, Naezelle M. Rodriguez, Lurix Lopez, Prescilla Ann F. Co, Nimfa Luna, Rico Medina, Dhurwin Wenceslao, Reggie Luna, Araceli Pasco, Marilou Caballero, Shiela Luna Lasaca, Alfredo Aspira, P02 Ariel Real, Ernesto Luna, P03 Rey “Tata” Chang, Edward Amao, Maria Donna Coyme, Araceli Pasco Julian, Darwin Luna, Toto Caballero, Amay Caballero, Eric Lasaca, Judy Amarao, Edna Dalena, Dickens Dalena, Eva Dalena, Isojo K. Casil, Edna Caballero, Patrick V. Ceniza, Diosdado M. Mag-aso, Frederick M. Mag-aso, Leonita Duhaylungsod, Angelo Duhaylungsod, and Roger Tenajeros.
Earlier reports said the 32-year-old Amalilio, reportedly of Filipino-Malaysian descent, has left the country for Sabah, Malaysia. His Malaysian name is Mohammad Suffian Saaid.
David said that in the absence of an arrest warrant or hold departure order (HDO) from the court, immigration officers cannot prevent those in the lookout bulletin from leaving the country.
“If anyone of them is seen leaving the country, we can only report their departure to the Department of Justice for monitoring purposes but we cannot prevent them from leaving without a warrant or HDO from the court,” he explained.
The BI chief added that only a judge can issue an arrest warrant or HDO against the suspects but prosecutors have yet to file the criminal information against them before the court.
Charges have been filed against the suspects before the prosecutor’s office in Pagadian City.
Even if they are not included in the national investigating team, Police Regional Office 7 director Marcelo Garbo said they are assisting in tracing the syndicate members behind the Aman scam as tasked by the Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.
“As per instruction of the DILG Secretary, we are validating the presence of those involved in the scam, likewise, to find out if there are Cebuanos or residents in Central Visayas who got involved in the scam,” Garbo said.
The PRO-7 director further said that he also informed Roxas of some residents in Cebu City who also fell victim to the scam.
Garbo called on other Cebu residents who fell to the syndicate’s ploy to report to the NBI, which is in charge to investigate the pyramid scam. (FREEMAN)