DOJ to probe easy money scam in Visayas, Mindanao — De Lima

(Updated 1:54 p.m.) The Department of Justice is probing allegations of a P12-billion “pyramid scam” involving a Malaysian-owned company that supposedly duped 15,000 people in the Visayas and Mindanao.   The department is coordinating with the Commission on Audit to see if public funds were involved in an investment scheme supposedly run by Malaysian Manuel Amalilio’s company Amman Futures Group Phils Inc., Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters on Wednesday.   Reports have it that among those who were duped were local government officials who endorsed the investment scheme to other people, according to the Justice secretary.   "The investigation has been on going since lumaki na ‘yang scam na ‘yan. Kailangan talagang file-an na ng kaso iyan," said De Lima.   "We are already gathering all the complaints and documents...” De Lima noted, saying, “I have likewise instructed the National Bureau of Investigation to instruct its local field offices to transmit records to the main office."   The DOJ task force on business scam and financial fraud would use the records as basis for its investigation. In a separate interview, Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, said they are now selecting the panel of prosecutors for the investigation.   The promise of huge returns within weeks supposedly lured investors in Lanao del Sur and Zamboanga in Mindanao and in Cebu in the Viasayas to go for the scam.   According to reports, representatives of Amman Futures encouraged victims to invest for 30 to 40-percent returns in eight days, and 50 to 80-percent in 18 to 20 days.   At first, the investors received cash but the company later on started issuing 50-day postdated  checks that bounced for lack of funds, according to the Justice Department. — VS, GMA News