DOJ upholds estafa raps vs Cebu doc linked to Aman Futures scam

The Department of Justice has upheld the syndicated estafa charges filed against a Cebu-based doctor implicated in the P12-billion investment scam started by Aman Futures founder Manuel Amalilio and victimized 15,000 people from Visayas and Mindanao.

In a resolution approved by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, the special panel of prosecutors probing the investment scam dismissed a motion filed by Dr. Rico Crisostomo Medina asking for the reconsideration of the criminal charges against him.

Also in the resolution, prepared by Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Edna Valenzuela and Merba Waga, the DOJ panel said Medina failed to present new evidence to convince the DOJ to reverse its earlier decision against him.

"A perusal of the arguments raised by respondent Rico Medina in his motion for reconsideration shows that the same are mere rehash of the defenses he already posited in his counter-affidavit which have already been passed upon in the said resolution," the panel said.

The DOJ said Medina's arguments were "evidentiary in nature" and would be best "ventilated in a full-blown trial."

"It bears to highlight that the undersigned found probable cause to indict respondent Rico Medina with such offense on the basis of his own acts and participation in the commission of the crime," the DOJ said.

Last June, Medina and his family emerged unscathed after five armed men fired at the Toyota Fortuner they were riding while they were in Barangay Labangon in Cebu City.

The Medinas managed to drive away from their attackers, who later on abandoned their vehicles in different parts of the City, earlier reports said.

Police investigators have said the attack could be connected to Medina's involvement in the Aman Future scam.

Medina was reported to be the owner of six colleges in Mindanao as well as the Medina College in Ozamiz City.

Amalilio had escaped to Malaysia before Philippine authorities could get him. As he was earlier about to be fetched by Philippine authorities, Amalilio was stopped at a Malaysian airport and was made to face separate criminal charges in Malaysia, for which he was found guilty and sentenced to two years in jail.

Amalilio allegedly hoodwinked thousands of investors in Mindanao and Visayas, including Cebu, with the promise of huge interest rates. Started only earlier this year in the Philippines, his firm is said to have lured around 15,000, but it started crumbling around September when checks issued to investors started bouncing.

Amalilio is facing separate cases of syndicated estafa in the Philippines, along with Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co and other people said to be involved in the scam including, Fernando Luna, Lelian Lim Gan, Eduard Lim, Wilanie Fuentes, Naezelle Rodriguez, Lurix Lopez, Mohammad Hassan Mackno, Dimasara Jova, Ian Madarang, and Priscilla Ann Fernandez Co.

Syndicated estafa is a non-bailable offense in the Philippines. — LBG, GMA News