Aman president surfaces, says he’s just a driver

MANILA, Philippines - A top executive of the controversial trading firm Aman Futures Group surfaced yesterday to clear his name in the P12-billion investment scam that duped some 15,000 investors from the Visayas and Mindanao.

Fernando Luna, said to be the close aide of Aman owner Manuel Amalilio and the firm’s nominal president, appeared before the Department of Justice (DOJ) and denied the charges filed against him by the victims.

Accompanied by lawyer Teresendo Poloyapoy, Luna said he was just Amalilio’s personal driver, and that he was made to sign documents he did not understand.

“They made me president, but I knew nothing. I signed documents but I didn’t even know what they were,” Luna told reporters.

Luna claimed he did not benefit from the scam and even recalled preventing his relatives from withdrawing their investment, at least until December.

“We thought to cash out this December so we’ll have money for the holidays, so everybody will be happy. All my siblings and I did not get anything from it,” he said.

The alleged Aman official said he was surprised by the turn of events, particularly when the controversy affected his family.

He revealed that angry victims burned the house of his father in Pagadian City and destroyed the houses of his siblings.

“We have nowhere to go,” he said, explaining why it took him some time to come out to clear the issues.

He said last Sept. 26, the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces secured and brought him to Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte due to threats from angry investors.

When asked for his message for Amalilio, Luna broke into tears and said, “Boss, I’m here now in DOJ. Please help!”

Luna’s wife Nimfa, also a respondent in the case, attended the hearing and submitted her counter-affidavit. She denied involvement in the scam.

Poloyapoy said the Lunas want to testify for the government and would like to apply for the witness protection program.

Five other members of the Aman board – Leila Lim Gan, Eduard Lim, Willanie Fuentes, Naezelle Rodriguez and Lurix Lopez – appeared before the DOJ panel last Nov. 27 and detailed their roles in the scheme. They also wanted to testify against Amalilio.

After yesterday’s hearing, the DOJ panel chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edna Valenzuela submitted for resolution the first set of complaints against the Aman officials and agents. The resolution is expected to come out next week at the earliest.

Amalilio has yet to appear before the DOJ. He is reportedly hiding in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.