Team to facilitate Amalilio extradition won't leave this week

MANILA -- Extradition and forfeiture proceedings against Aman Futures founder Manuel Amalilio are not going to take place this week following the absence of the Malaysian official who will help facilitate the Philippines' request.

In a chance interview, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the two pairs of state counsels and prosecutors she will be sending to Kuala Lumpur will fly next week to communicate with Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, who is currently out of Malaysia.

"[W]e would have to defer or move the trip of the prosecutors and state counsels. But as far as we are concerned, there is no indication from our counterparts that the negotiation on Amalilio's return here has been shelved," she said Tuesday.

She also declined to link the development to the ongoing standoff in Sabah, where followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram vowed not to leave the Malaysian territory despite an order from authorities.

"Nobody in the Cabinet has been authorized to speak on the matter yet. Of course, that (standoff) has been discussed but I cannot say the steps being taken by the government," said de Lima.

Patail earlier ordered the freezing of assets of the investment scam leader, which include company shares, stocks, and land assets, among others.

Amalilio has yet to face trial for syndicated estafa in a Pagadian court since he is currently serving a two-year jail term in Malaysia for possession of fake Philippine passport. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)