De Lima gives go-signal to gov’t negotiating team on Amalilio extradition

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. INQUIRER/Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila De Lima already approved the travel order for the team of prosecutors and state counsels tasked to negotiate with the Malaysian government for the extradition of Aman Futures founder Manuel Amalilio.

“The team will leave mid-March since the Malaysian Attorney-General is not available until then to receive them (the team),” De Lima told reporters Monday.

Included in the travel order is Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, Justice Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar and other prosecutors and legal counsels.

Early this month, a team from the justice department left for Malaysia to meet with Federation Malaysia Attorney General Tan Sri Gani Patail to discuss Amalilio’s extradition.

Amalilio was convicted by a Malaysian court and was sentenced to two-year imprisonment for securing a fake Philippine passport.