Actor Ken Chan has broken his silence regarding the syndicated estafa case he is currently facing, affirming that he is confronting the allegations head-on and has not defrauded anyone. In an Instagram post on Thursday, Nov. 14, Chan emphasized that while his business venture, Cafe Claus, which once boasted three branches, did not succeed, it was not due to any wrongdoing on his part.
“Personal kong babasagin ang aking katahimikan sa kumakalat na version ng kaso na isinampa laban sa akin dahil sa pagkalugi ng itinayo naming negosyo,” Chan stated. He assured the public that he never sought to deceive anyone, adding, “Hindi po ako nanloko ng tao, naitayo po ang negosyo ngunit hindi ito nagtagumpay.”
Chan highlighted that the amount stated in the complaint does not paint the complete picture. “Hindi po dahil ito ang amount na isinampa laban sa akin ay ito na ang buong katotohan,” he stressed.
The GMA-7 actor revealed that he would soon share more details surrounding the circumstances that led to the business failure and reiterated that he did not simply solicit funds or engage in fraudulent behavior as alleged.
“Hindi po ako nanghingi lang ng pera at nanloko tulad ng akusasyon sa akin,” he reiterated, adding that he initially chose to remain silent while addressing the matter legally alongside supporters. “Naniniwala ako na sa awa ng Panginoon ay mairaraos ko po ito.”
Ken also asserted his resolve to face the complaint directly. “Lumalaban po ako at hindi tumatakbo palayo sa isinampang kaso sa akin,” he declared, underscoring that his career, built over a decade, would not be undone by these accusations. “Mahigit isang dekada kong pinaghirapan ang aking career at hindi dahil sa akusasyon ng iilan ang magtatapos ng napakagandang future na inilaan para sa akin ng Panginoon.”
The charges stem from a complaint involving an alleged “investment scam,” where Atty. Joseph Noel Estrada, one of the complainant’s lawyers, claimed that Chan solicited P14 million for investments in the restaurant venture, promising a 10% monthly return. When the business folded, Chan reportedly became unreachable to investors, prompting the filing of charges against him and seven co-accused.
Philippine National Police attempted to arrest Chan at his Quezon City home on Nov. 8 but did not find him there. Estrada noted this was the second unsuccessful attempt, following another in September.
Syndicated estafa is a serious offense under Philippine law, involving a group of five or more individuals committing fraudulent acts, with penalties including life imprisonment.
