By Nancy Carvajal
Over 100 persons who invested more than P40 million in Flex Fuel Corporation’s co-ownership scheme are calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to step into the matter and help them recover their hard earned money.
A total of 145 investors have filed a complaint over Flex Fuel’s alleged scam before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Bilyonaryo obtained a letter signed by the complainants to Marcos asking for the conduct of an in depth inquiry into their case.
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“We write to you, Hon. President BBM to respectfully look into this matter and initiate or probably mandate for the immediate investigation of this case, as we are really feeling for our OFWs (who composed the 80 percent of the complainants) who are working so hard to save money to invest in hopes to return to the Philippines and enjoy the proceeds of their investment,” the investors’ letter read.
The complainants said their total investment in Flex Fuel amounted to P34.2 million and US$140,200 (roughly P7.7 million).
Flex Fuel reportedly enticed investors to put in at least P990,000 in exchange of co-owning a gas station. The investors, however, said they failed to recoup their investment.
Actor and television host Luis Manzano was named in the investors’ letter to Marcos as chairman of the board and owner of Flex Fuel Corp. His business partner, Ildefonso Medel Jr., was indicated as chief executive officer of ICM Group of Companies, the gas station’s parent firm.
Other Flex Fuel executives sued by the investors were: Arthur Athony Alicer, Anthony Bernard Sales, Kristina Marie Medel, Zoilo Centeno,, Anna Bernardino, Roy Ranada, Mark Camano and Charliemagne Presto.
The investors asked Marcos to assign a particular government agency or official to help them recover their money.
“We trust that your command to the rightful department/ officials will help us get our hard –earned money back, [and] put into prison manipulative and deceitful people,” the letter read.
The NBI has launched its own probe on the investors’ complaints. It issued a subpoena to Manzano to attend the investigation but he snubbed it.