Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Friday the government would treat Manuel Amalilio as a “high risk detainee” not just because of the risk of flight but because people angered by losing money in his fraudulent investment scheme might try to get back at him.
“Of course a lot of investors are angry. Who will not be, when your money suddenly disappears?,” De Lima told reporters, adding that “appropriate security measures” would have to be put in place once Amalilio, who was expected to be flown to Manila from Sabah Friday night, is formally turned over to local authorities. (Editor’s Note: Amalilio is still in Malaysia after authorities there prevented him from leaving the country.)
De Lima said one more reason for Amalilio to be well guarded, should the National Bureau of Investigation get custody of him, was because he knows many prominent people who helped him propagate his investment scheme.
“I think he knows a lot. Based on the NBI’s ongoing investigation, there are still many VIPs in the area [of Aman Futures’ operations] such as Zamboanga, Pagadian and nearby cities and municipalities. He would know exactly who the investors are,” De Lima said.
De Lima clarified that the warrants of arrest for syndicated estafa would be served on Amalilio as soon as he lands on Philippine soil. She said Amalilio was being deported from Malaysia for simply violating that country’s immigration laws.