Alleged agent of investment firm tagged in P12-B pyramid scam killed

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PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines – An alleged agent of Aman Futures – the investment company involved in a multi-billion-peso scam in Mindanao and Visayas – was found dead in a Zamboanga del Sur town with a bullet hole in the chest after he was abducted by unidentified men here on Monday.

Anwar Zainal, also owner of the Security Pacific Insurance – a car insurance agency here — was found dead along the national highway in Barangay (village) Balucot in Tambulig town, some 45 minutes by land from here, around 6 a.m. Tuesday.

In a one-page report to the Zamboanga del Sur police headquarters, Senior Inspector Edgar Hinoctan, chief of the Tambulig police, said Zainal succumbed to a single gunshot wound to the chest.

He said the victim might have been struck with a hard object too, as indicated by a wound on the left side of his head.

Senior Superintendent William Manzan, Zamboanga del Sur police chief, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Zainal was snatched near his office here on Monday.

He said a province-wide alert was issued for the missing Aman agent as soon as the police received the report of his abduction.

On Tuesday, police confirmed the report of his killing and the discovery of his body in Tambulig, Manzan said.

He said the police were investigating the murder, as of Wednesday.

“We still do not know the motive of the abduction and the killing,” he said.

Although police confirmed that Zainal acted as agent for Aman Futures, Manzan said the police could not conclude yet that his death was connected to his involvement in the pyramiding company.

Outrage swept Pagadian City and neighboring areas after Aman Futures – which operated a double-your-money scam – defaulted on paying its investors, numbering nearly 15,000 people.

A retired public school official from this city committed suicide when he learned he had been duped of his retirement pay.

Government officials said Aman officials, led by Manuel Amalilio, said to be of Filipino-Malaysian descent, had fled with an estimated P12 billion in pooled investments from such clients as ordinary market vendors, retirees, fisherfolk, soldiers, and even businessmen.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) here said it has received information that Amalilio had been sighted in Kuala Lumpur after his scheme was uncovered.

Norman Decampong, NBI head agent, said the report was provided by some people, who saw Amalilio in the Malaysian capital.

Decampong said the report was being validated, along with other information concerning Amalilio and other Aman officials.