Malacañang to Pagadian mayor: Hiding won’t help

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday urged Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co to come out and face the syndicated estafa charges filed against him for his alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso investment scam of Aman Futures Group Phils. Inc.

“Hiding will not help,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio dzRB, adding that the warrant earlier issued for his arrest “will be pursued.”

“Hopefully, he will be found. When it comes to cases like this, the best avenue for someone to prove his innocence or to present his defense is by facing the charges in court,” she added.

Valte said evading the law will not work since all measures are in place to ensure the mayor will not be able to leave the country.

The Bureau of Immigration placed Co on its lookout list following the issuance of an arrest warrant by Iligan City Judge Alberto Quinto last Thursday.

The court dismissed Co’s motion for judicial determination of probable cause seeking to stop his indictment for syndicated estafa. No bail was recommended for his temporary freedom.

Photographs of Co are posted at the immigration counters of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to prevent him from leaving the country.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday ordered immigration agents at the airport to make sure that Co will not be able to leave the country even in the absence of a hold departure order (HDO) from the court.

De Lima explained that the warrant issued for Co’s arrest effectively serves as an HDO because immigration authorities “can and must take him into custody for turnover to the NBI or to the Philippine National Police once he is intercepted at the airport.”

She earlier ordered the NBI to work double time to locate the whereabouts of Co. – With Rudy Santos, Rey Galupo