Although one of the two suspected masterminds of the multimillion Complan investment scam has been
arrested in Cavite province on alleged drug charges, he cannot be brought back to the island as not one
of the scam cases has been filed against him before the Regional Trial Court in Virac.
Without the filing of the cases, the Court cannot issue a warrant for the arrest of Panti, his wife and four
other accused.
According to a reliable source at the Hall of Justice, the Provincial Prosecution is still finishing the
consolidation of the multiple cases as it had to wait for other complainants to file their own affidavit-
complaints.
The source claimed that a panel of prosecutors will handle the preliminary investigation of the complaints
to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed, and that the
respondent is probably guilty, and should be held for trial.
The Panti couple will have to submit their counter-affidavits and that of their witnesses, with the
investigating panel given the discretion to conduct a hearing to clarify facts or issues from a party or a
witness.
In the absence of the respondents’ counter-affidavits upon the expiry of a 10-day period, the investigating
officer or panel shall resolve the complaint based on the evidence presented by the complainants.
News reports said that in the early morning of Nov. 18, 2021, Darius Panti, who has been reportedly living
in Imus City under another name together with his co-accused and wife Maureen Ambrosio Panti, was
apprehended in a buy-bust operation together with a male relative.
The police seized from Panti and his companion three transparent plastic sachets containing white
crystalline granule believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
During the investigation, Panti allegedly gave a different name and address in Bicol.
It may be recalled that last September, Darius, more than 40 investors assisted by the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) filed separate complaints against Panti, his wife, and alleged scam conspirators
Kenneth Brian Suarez, Mary Winsion Ibarreta, one John Doe and a Jane Doe for the Complan investment
scam that is believed to have raked in P100 million from 1,700 investors.