JOEL CALAMBA ESCOL, Managing Editor
MANILA, Philippines — Actor and game show host Luis Manzano did not attend the second scheduled hearing set by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), on his alleged involvement in the Flex Fuel mess.
The actor instead sent his lawyers and ordered them to get copies of some documents but the NBI denied them to do so.
According to NBI agent Roland Fernandez the bureau is not authorized to release any document.
The board of Directors, who were co-accused of the actor, however, attended the hearing. They were composed of Flex Fuel president Bong Medel Jr., director Kristina Sales-Medel, corporate treasurer Anthony Bernard Sales and corporate secretary Arthur Alicer.
SUBPOENA
A week ago, actor Luis Manzano was issued a subpoena by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in relation to his reported involvement in the alleged Flex Fuel investment scheme.
It was the Criminal Intelligence Division of the NBI who issued the said subpoena. This after, fifteen overseas Filipino workers (OFW) have formally filed their complaints to the NBI office in Manila. But it was learned that there were 40 complainants in the country.
According to a report aired by GMA News, a complainant named “Leo” invested over a million after they saw the actor act as the speaker and presented the marketing plan of Flex Fuel company.
“Pumasok po sa aming Zoom meeting si Luis Manzano at nagpakilalang owner at chairman ng Flex Fuel. Ito raw po ay isang lifetime business, pandemic business kaya po napakaganda po. Ako po ay nagloan sa bangko upang mapadala po sa Flex Fuel para po sa investment. At ng April 22, 2022, makalipas ang anim na buwan, wala pa rin po silang natatayo na gasoline station. Kahit isa,” Leo told the media in an interview.
Earlier, another complainant Jinky Sta. Isabel claimed she invested P3.9 million. But Sta Isabel said they are willing to drop their case if Flex Fuel pays them back their supposed investments.
“Ibalik niya ang pera namin. Kahit principal, ‘yung buong pera lang namin na dineposit sa account niya. Kahit wala na ‘yung kinita, wala na ‘yung interes. Hindi na kami magsasampa ng kaso,” Sta. Isabel stressed.
The management of Flex Fuel has already denied the scam allegations from the complainants but explained the company was hit and affected by the Covid-19 pandemic which they have no control over.
