Aman official surfaces, denies involvement in investment scam

(Updated 2:33 p.m.) An official of the Aman Futures Group Philippines, the firm implicated in a multibillion-peso investment scam, has surfaced to deny involvement in the case. Fernando Luna, who, along with his wife Nimfa, dropped by the Department of Justice (DOJ) main office on Padre Faura in Manila, said Thursday that he and his family were also victims of the scam. "Kahit nga 'yung mga kamag-anak namin, walang natanggap na pera. Kasi hindi ko ini-expect na ganyan ang mangyayari," he told reporters. Luna said like all the investors, he was also expecting to get his money back with the promised interest. "Ang mga kamag-anak ko, hindi ko sila pina-cash out kasi ang iniisip namin itong December. Dito kami mag-cash out para masaya kami lahat. Sila mismo inuuna ko. Lahat ng mga kapatid ko walang nakuha kahit ako," he said. Luna said he was made president of the firm, but admitted: "May mga papeles na pinipirmahan ako [pero] hindi ko alam kung ano 'yun." With Luna's appearance, the DOJ wrapped up its investigation on the P12-billion investment scam. Fernando Luna, along with his wife Nimfa, According to Assistant Senior State Prosecutor Edna Valenzuela, the Luna couple appeared to "subscribe and submit their joint counter-affidavit.” “[The] case is now submitted for resolution," Valenzuela told GMA News Online. Luna was among the officials of Aman Futures accused of duping some 15,000 victims in Mindanao and Visayas into investing P12 billion to the firm. He was supposed to appear in the DOJ preliminary investigation in Pagadian City earlier this month to subscribe on his counter-affidavit.   Luna said his father's home had been burned down, while the residences of his siblings had all been torn down by their neighbors. Pagadian City mayor Samuel Co, who also claimed to be a victim himself, had accused Luna of being the firm's operator in the city. Co said he had met Luna before when the local city government was inspecting Aman Futures' business permits. Co said Luna lacked the needed documents but he had still given the firm a temporary business permit to "protect" the people who had already invested money to the company. Aman Futures is owned by Manuel Amalilio, who has already fled to Malaysia. Other victims of the investment firm included local police officials in Pagadian City, who have separately filed complaints of syndicated estafa against Amalilio, Luna, and other Aman Futures officials. Asked what he wanted to tell Amalilio, Luna said: "Boss, I'm here now in DOJ. Please help!" — Mark D. Merueñas/KBK, GMA News