Press Release
March 30, 2009

ROXAS TO SEC: EXTEND DEADLINE FOR FILING OF LEGACY CLAIMS
SEEKS AFP HELP IN INFORMING SOLDIERS RE LEGACY FUND SITUATION

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas has asked the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to extend the deadline for the filing of claims of thousands of victimized plan holders of the Legacy Group.

He has likewise asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for help in informing its soldiers in the field about the Legacy fund mess and the deadline set by the SEC for the filing of complaints, as they might belong to the roughly 12,000 soldiers victimized by De los Angeles' pre-need companies.

"Dapat maisampa ang pinakamalakas na kaso. Humingi tayo ng palugit sa SEC para magkaroon ng pagkakataon ang mga biktima na magsampa ng reklamo laban kay De los Angeles (The strongest case should be filed against de los Angeles. That's why we asked SEC to give a chance for many, if not all, to file complaints)," he said

"Ayaw nating ma-delay ang proseso, pero ayaw rin naman nating malabnaw ang kasong maisampa (We don't want the process to be delayed, but we don't want a roughshod case filed)," he also said,

In a letter he asked SEC Chairman Fe Barin to extend the deadline "until such date and time deemed sufficient to cover all Legacy planholders, without prejudice and delay in the processing and servicing of those who have already filed their claims." He also asked SEC to stop collecting filing fees against Legacy claimants, as this "constitutes an undue burden on Legacy claimants who have already lost much of their hard-earned monies because of Legacy."

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce also wrote AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Alexander Yano to seek the assistance of the AFP in informing the troops about the situation of the Legacy Group. This was prompted by a letter from detained Col. Ariel Querubin who informed him that thousands of soldiers are planholders of SPPI Plans, many of whom bought their plans bought way back in 1999 when they were assigned to the Sofronio Espanola camp in Southern Palawan. Querubin had said many of the SPPI plan holders--estimated at 12,000--have yet to file their claims with SEC because they are not aware of Legacy's financial mess.

Roxas also wrote the Armed Forces and Police Savings Loan Association (AFPSLAI) to officially request for information on AFP and PNP officers and personnel who are Legacy plan holders. Legacy premium payments were collected through monthly salary deductions done by the AFPLSAI.

"Pati mga sundalo at pulis natin ay hindi pinatawad nitong si de los Angeles. Hindi ko titigilan si Celso hangga't hindi niya nababayaran ang kanyang mga biktima at hangga't hindi siya nakukulong (He duped even our soldiers and policemen. We'll not stop until he's been made accountable for his actions)," he said.

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