Palace lauds Malaysia commitment for Amalilio's early deportation
-A A +ASaturday, February 16, 2013
MANILA -- Malacanang welcomed Saturday the pronouncement of the Malaysian government for its commitment to work for the early deportation of alleged investment scam ringleader Manuel Amalilio.
Amalilio, who has been facing multiple estafa charges in the Philippines, allegedly defrauded 15,000 investors from Mindanao and the Visayas of P12 billion. He is the owner of Aman Futures Group Philippines Inc. who was earlier arrested in Kota Kinabalu.
"We welcome that statement. I understand that was conveyed by the Malaysian Foreign Minister to our Secretary of Foreign Affairs," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
"The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) will continue to work with their Malaysian counterparts to ensure the turnover of Mr. Amalilio to Philippine authorities," she added.
Valte also assured victims of the investment scam not to lose hope because the government is doing everything to bring Amalilio back to the Philippines so that justice could be served.
Two pairs of state counsels and prosecutors will be sent to Malaysia next week to work for the extradition and forfeiture proceedings, according to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman told Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario in a phone call Friday morning that the former was strongly advocating the early turnover of Amalilio to the Philippine government.
The DFA said that Anifah also confirmed to Del Rosario the order of the Malaysian attorney general to freeze Amalilio's assets in Malaysia.
Last December, the Philippines Court of Appeals extended up to six months the freeze order on 25 bank accounts of Aman Futures and its related accounts and assets to prevent its executives, particularly Amalilio, from making substantial withdrawals from banks.
Amalilio, who also uses a Malaysian name, was arrested by local authorities in Kota Kinabalu on January 25 and was charged early this month for possession of a fake Philippine passport.
He was sentenced to two years in a Malaysian jail after pleading guilty to the offense. (SDR/Sunnex)
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