PAGADIAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 29, 2012)- Manila said it would not give special treatment to Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co who has been linked to investment scam in the southern Philippines.
Co, a politcal ally of President Benigno Aquino and member of the administration’s Liberal Party, has denied all accusations against him and blamed his political opponents for linking him to the P12-billion scam perpetrated by Aman Futures.
Malacanang said there will be no special treatment given to any personality regardless of party affiliation.
Aside from Co, his wife and 10 others have been charged with syndicated estafa for their alleged involvement in Ponzi scheme.
Co is running for Congress in next year’s polls.
The Philippine News Agency quoted Justice Secretary Leila de Lima as saying that based on documentary evidence, the mayor allegedly played a role in the scam.
It also said that Maria Dona Coyme, one of the finance managers of Aman Futures, has implicated Co and wife Pricilla Ann Fernandez and that they had sought investors for the group.
Co insisted he was not part of the scam, but a victim.
“We expect the DOJ to perform its job of identifying personalities who may be culpable for the scam,” said Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, adding the charges against Co were based “on the evidence gathered and that is the mandate of the DOJ.”
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