Pending complaints in Malaysia are preventing the return of Aman Futures boss Manuel Amalilio to the Philippines, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said over the weekend.
De Lima said the complaints prompted Malaysian authorities to hold Amalilio and not allow his return home, radio dzBB reported early Monday.
The Justice Deparment had said that Amalilio is a Filipino and not a Malaysian national.
Last Friday, National Bureau of Investigation agents who went to fetch Amalilio returned home empty-handed after the Malaysian authorities did not turn him over to them at the last minute.
De Lima said it was not immediately clear if those who filed complaints against Amalilio in Malaysia were Filipinos or Malaysians.
She said that while the Philippine government is serious in getting him home, it has to respect the processes in Malaysia also.
“We are serious in our effort ibalik siya rito pero dapat galangin din natin ang proseso sa Malaysia,” she said.
Last weekend, Malacañang reassured the public the appropriate government agencies are making efforts to facilitate the return to the Philippines of Amalilio.
Amalilio, whose firm was linked to a P12-billion investment pyramiding scam, was arrested in Malaysia for possession of a fraudulent Malaysian passport and IDs. — RSJ, GMA News
