Pagadian mayor fights indictment in Aman case

MANILA, Philippines - Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co has questioned his indictment for the P12-billion investment scam involving Aman Futures Group Phils. Inc.

Co filed a motion for judicial determination as soon as the case was filed before the Iligan City regional trial court (RTC) last Thursday.

The mayor said there was no probable cause to indict him and asked the court to nullify the resolution of the Department of Justice (DOJ) approving the first set of charges filed against him by victims led by Julius Labunog.

Judge Alberto Quinto of Iligan City RTC Branch 1 was not able to immediately act on the case as he was on leave until last Friday. He is expected to report for work today.

The case was the first against Co and Amalilio’s wife Abigail Pendulas and the third against Aman owner Manuel Amalilio, who is detained in Sabah for using a fake passport, and the firm’s board members Leila Lim Gan, Eduard Lim, Willanie Fuentes, Naezelle Rodriguez and Lurix Lopez, who are all under government custody.

The DOJ is investigating another complaint filed against Co last November by businessman Samsodin Ala, fire officer Fabian Tapayan Jr. and government employee Norolhaya Taha.

In his counter-affidavit, Co denied allegations that he aided Aman in its operations last year. He accused his political rival, Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Antonio Cerilles, of instigating the case to destroy his reputation as head of the ruling Liberal Party in the province.

A DOJ special panel on the Aman case said preliminary investigation showed that Co “acted not merely as an investor but also as an agent of Aman.”

Investigating fiscals cited a certification issued by Aman last August declaring Co as an “authorized agent” and his offer of a municipal government-owned building for rent to Aman.

The DOJ also cited Co’s issuance of a temporary business permit to Aman – in the form of certificate of payment of business tax – even before it submitted the required documents.

The DOJ panel said Co failed to disprove complaints that he forged a deal with Aman by imposing a 4-percent tax per investment to make the Ponzi-scheme investment appear legitimate.

Meanwhile, in Davao City, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte warned residents not to be lured into buying pre-need plans that promise more than what is normally expected.

Duterte said agents of these pre-need plans are going around the city soliciting clients, adding that people should be wary if the plan is “too good to be true.”

Duterte said he has already coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police to look into a pre-need scam victimizing residents in the southern part of Davao City. – With Edith Regalado