Palace to Pagadian mayor in investment scam: Stop hiding and face court

Malacañang on Saturday called on Pagadian Mayor Samuel Co anew to surrender and face the court over a large-scale investment scam, after a court issued a warrant for his arrest.

 

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the court is now the best forum for Co to show his innocence in the case against him.

 

“When it comes to cases like this, the best avenue for someone to prove his innocence is face charges in court. Hindi nakakatulong ang pagtago,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio.

 

Otherwise, she said Philippine authorities will “pursue” the subject of the warrant.

 

“May pagkakataon kayo na patunayan sa korte ang sinasabing innocence ninyo Before the courts, you have a chance to prove your innocence),” she said.

 

Earlier, the National Bureau of Investigation said a Lanao del Norte trial court had ordered Co’s arrest for the investment scam that fleeced 15,000 investors in Mindanao and Visayas.

 

But the NBI said it had failed to find Co in the address indicated in the arrest warrant when they tried to serve it.

 

Co’s lawyer Trixie Angeles claimed Co had contested the arrest warrant and filed a motion seeking to recall it.

 

Last March, the Department of Justice recommended syndicated estafa charges against Co and 11 others for their alleged involvement in Aman Futures Group Philippine Inc.

 

Founder and suspected mastermind Manuel Amalilio is now in Malaysia where he is serving a two-year jail sentence for possession of fake passports. -   VVP, GMA News