2nd estafa raps filed vs Pagadian mayor, wife over investment scam

A second syndicated estafa complaint was lodged against Pagadian City Mayor Samuel "Sammy" Co and his wife for their alleged involvement in the P12-billion investment scam of Aman Futures Group Philippines Inc. The case was filed with the Department of Justice on Thursday upon the recommendation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which investigated Aman Futures after receiving complaints from 22 Pagadian City-based businessmen led by a certain Rudy Ases. The complainants accused Co of issuing business permits to Aman Futures owned by Manuel Amalilio, and Fretz and Sha Trading owned by Aman Futures operator Fernando Luna. In its recommendation, the NBI said Co issued a temporary permit to Aman Futures on July 27 even if the firm "lacked the necessary Secondary License for it to undertake services (online marketing), and not the business of soliciting funds from the public for investments for commodities futures trading.” The NBI said Co enticed potential investors by saying he has connections with government officials like Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and even NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas. On Wednesday, the first Aman Futures-related syndicated estafa complaint was leveled against the Co couple and was filed by businessman Samsodin Ala of Marawi City; Fabian Tapayan Jr. of Pagadian City; and government employee Norolhaya Taha of Marawi City. The NBI investigated the complaints and eventually made recommendations to the DOJ. Apart from the Co couple, also charged in the first complaint were Amalilio, Luna, Leilan Lim Gan, Eduardo Lim, Willanie Fuentes, Nazelle Rodriguez, Lurix Lopez, Mohammad Hassan Mackno, Dimasara Jova, and Ian Madarang.   Amalilio is said to be the founder of Aman Futures and is believed to have fled to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. On the other hand, Luna is said to be the firm's operator. Gan, Lim, Fuentes, Rodriguez and Lopez, meanwhile, are members of the Aman Future board of directors. Mackno, Jova, and Madarang are supposed Aman Futures investment agents. The three complainants said the investment firm took away from them a total of more than P11 million. In an interview on GMA News TV's Balitanghali last Tuesday, Co denied committing syndicated estafa, and raised suspicion that the complaints being leveled against him were politically motivated and part of "character assasination" against him by Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles.   "May iba pa pong witnesses namin na ipe-present namin in due time kasi pinabayaan ko na lang kung pano na sila mag-fabricate ng kaso. Pero ang fabricated na kaso, madali lang i-contest iyon," Co said.   "Dini-discredit ako sa national government para 'di ako tulungan ng Liberal Party," said Co, refering to his political party, which has President Benigno Aquino III as its head.   Cerilles denied Co's accusations in a separate Balitanghali report. "Wala pong pulitka ito... Even before [Co] issued the business permit, he was already forewarned that this [Aman Futures] is a scam, and yet itinuloy niya," he said in the report, also aired last Tuesday. — Mark D. Merueñas/KBK, GMA News