Gov't won't stop Amalilio pursuit despite settlement talk [1]

ABS-CBNnews.com | 01/29/2013 12:03 PM

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MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Tuesday said it is bent on bringing to justice Aman Futures head and founder Manuel Amalilio even if some of his victims are willing to settle with the Ponzi scam leader.

In a statement, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Philippine government is mandated to pursue Amalilio and other suspects in the Aman Futures scam because they committed a crime.

She said bringing the suspects to justice will serve as a lesson to other people not to commit the same scheme.

"Kung sakali mang piliin ang ibang biktima na makipag-areglo sa kampo nila Amalilio ay personal na desisyon na nila iyon ngunit dahil krimen ang binibintang sa mga akusado ay mandato ng pamahalaang usigin sila para magsilbi na rin itong leksyon sa ibang tao," she said.

Amalilio, founder and head of Aman Futures Group, is facing several cases of syndicated estafa before the Pagadian Regional Trial Court for duping thousands of Filipinos in a P12 billion investment scam.

He was arrested in Kota Kinabalu last week after fleeing the Philippines at the height of the scam

Amalilio was all set to board a Cebu Pacific plane at the Kota Kinabalu airport Friday night when a senior Malaysian official stopped him.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas claimed it was chief minister of Sabah, Musa Aman, who stopped Amalilio from getting on the plane.