Leave no stone unturned

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Now that the head of the company, that had so quickly and so efficiently duped thousands of Filipinos into parting with their hard-earned money and even their life savings, has been identified, and possibly located, the government should not leave any of the proverbial stones unturned in seeking him out and bringing him to justice in this country.

Reports have named the head of the Aman Futures Group as a certain Manuel Amalilio and have traced him to Kota Kinabalu, according to the National Bureau of Investigation. If it is true that President Benigno Aquino III has alerted the International Police on this Amalilio and his cohorts, then our own police authorities should move fast so they could to take all possible steps to arrest them and bring them back to face their accusers and the court.

The Justice Department has enumerated the victims of the company as local politicians, police and military personnel, government employees, market vendors, farmers, drivers, retired employees, families of overseas Filipino workers, and other professionals.

The company has, indeed, gotten hold of the earnings of a wide cross section of our communities and has left behind thousands who are still in shock over what happened to them, as well as the insecurity and grief that the losses had brought them.

Another reprehensible thing about the operations of the Aman Futures is that it has reportedly managed to convince even local government officials to invest in it funds belonging to their towns or cities.

The sooner Amalilio and his group who had worked with him in duping so many people are located and arrested, the better, because, despite the seemingly hopelessness of the chances that the so-called “investors” can be refunded, there remains a minuscule possibility that part of their loot could also be traced, through the anti-money laundering council, or their other assets could be seized in favor of their victims.

That’s a long shot, but who knows?*