DOJ creates another panel to boost Aman scam probe

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has created another panel of prosecutors to boost its investigation into the P12-billion pyramiding scam of Aman Futures Group Phils. Inc. and other similar investment scams.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima issued Department Order No. 989 creating a 10-member panel that will assist the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in building up the cases against Aman Futures and its officials.

The new team was tasked to help in the collection of evidence, case evaluation and buildup, prior to their referral to the special panel of prosecutors handling the preliminary investigation.

De Lima designated Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Philip Kimpo as chair and Senior Assistant State prosecutor Edwin Dayog as vice chair.

The other members of the panel are Assistant State Prosecutors Nolibien Quiambao, Hjalmar Quintana, Diosdado Solidum Jr., Michael Aragon Vito Cruz, Florencio de la Cruz, Gerard Gaerlan, John Benedict Medina and Ma. Kristhina Paat-Salumbides.

De Lima said the NBI continues to gather complaints from victims of Aman Futures in Pagadian City and other cities in Mindanao and the Visayas where the trading firm headed by Malaysian Manuel Amalilio had operated.

The special panel chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edna Valenzuela is set to hold on Nov. 27 the first hearing for preliminary investigation on the six initial complaints against Amalilio at the DOJ.

Among the complainants in the preliminary investigation of DOJ is Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co, who claimed to be a victim of Aman Futures, but another complainant, fire officer Fabian Tapayan Jr., had claimed that the mayor received investments from the victims in behalf of the trading firm.

Co had denied the allegations, saying he is also a victim of Aman Futures.

NBI Director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas said two witnesses who have surfaced to testify against Co are now being secured by the NBI.

Rojas said the witnesses have arrangements with the NBI to be secured pending their intent to apply for the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the DOJ.

Rojas said the statements of the two witnesses have been taken, but they have not yet been placed under the WPP.

He said their statements are still being verified by the NBI.

Amalilio and other respondents were already summoned by the DOJ last Wednesday, when it received a seventh complaint filed by 23 policemen and fire officers from Pagadian who lost millions in combined investments to Aman Futures.

The DOJ said complaints would be treated separately because of “different sets of respondents and varying amounts of money involved.”

Aside from the Aman Futures case, the DOJ panel is also conducting preliminary investigation into the separate syndicated estafa complaints filed against Nad 21 Auto Option of Jachob Rasuman.    

Meanwhile, the NBI plans to set up an office or complaint desk dedicated to receive and assist in the investigation solely on the scams of Aman Futures Group, Nad 21, Visioner 2020 International Traders Inc, and other firms involved in investment scams to accommodate the increasing number of complaints.

“We are arranging our space to accommodate all these complaints,” said Rojas during an interview with reporters yesterday at NBI headquarters in Manila. – With Sandy Araneta