Pyramiding scam boss must face the law – Noy

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has vowed to bring back wanted businessman Manuel Amalilio and make him face the law for purportedly duping thousands of workers in Mindanao to invest their hard-earned money in his “double-your-money” scheme.

Aquino gave the assurance on Saturday after Malaysian authorities prevented agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from bringing Amalilio back to the Philippines.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has confirmed that Malaysian officials intervened and stopped Amalilio’s deportation last Thursday.

“His (Amalilio’s) flight was blocked by a Malaysian police commissioner on orders from ‘higher ups,’” De Lima said as she identified one of the officials as Sabah chief minister Musa Aman.

Aquino lamented that technical issues cropped up when the NBI team was about to bring the Aman Futures Group Inc. chief executive back to face proper charges.

“But we expect him to be brought back to the Philippines and to face trial, and with the evidence presented, to be convicted, be sent to jail. That will serve, hopefully, as a deterrent to others,” Aquino told reporters in Davos after attending the World Economic Forum.

The President said if no one would be jailed for this case despite the billions of money defrauded from the people, others would try to replicate the scheme.

De Lima said the four-man NBI team was not given a clear and acceptable reason for the “last-minute” intervention on what should have been a smooth deportation of the alleged leader of the pyramiding scheme.

“We are still trying to verify the reason so we can determine the next step or move to ensure that we will get Mr. Amalilio,” she said.

“We are working out ways to get him (Amalilio). We’re not telegraphing our punches,” she added.

The justice chief said her office might consider filing an official request for clarification for the Malaysian government to shed light on the incident.

Reports had it that Amalilio’s deportation was blocked due to “incomplete documents” after it was found that he is also a Malaysian national.

De Lima said the NBI team presented documents proving the Aman head is a Filipino whose deportation was required for him to face two initial estafa cases filed in the Philippines.

She admitted the cancellation came as a surprise since the Philippine embassy officials, including the police attache has given assurance that there would be “no more problem” in Amalilio’s deportation.

However, about 10 minutes before they could board the flight, the Malaysian policemen arrived and took him into custody.

An insider privy to the case told The STAR that Amalilio also goes by the Malaysian name Mohd Kamal Saaim, and has influential relatives in Malaysia. – With Edu Punay