MANILA, Philippines — Actor Ken Chan finally breaks his silence since the release of the warrant for his arrest after a syndicated estafa complaint.
On Thursday evening, Chan released a statement on his Facebook and Instagram accounts to personally address “the circulating version of the case” filed against him.
Chan said he established Café Claus, which had three branches, before it closed.
“I did not deceive anyone; the business was established but did not succeed,” Chan wrote in Filipino.
In a complaint, an anonymous businessman alleged that Chan and seven others failed to deliver their agreed profit-sharing deal for the former’s P14-million investment. Authorities tried to serve the warrant of arrest for the second time on Nov. 8 at Chan’s residence, but the actor was not present.
“Just because this specific amount has been filed against me does not mean it represents the full truth. I will share the actual numbers and details, which have been overly exaggerated as only the complainant’s side has been presented,” Chan said.
The actor also said that there are issues that need to be addressed, particularly why the case was filed as syndicated estafa when it should only pertain to the business loss.
He promised that in the coming days, he will reveal more details, alleging that certain individuals continue to attack him and damage his character.
“I did not merely ask for money and deceive others as accused,” he said.
Instead, Chan said that Café Claus incurred losses, largely due to certain business partners who allegedly aimed to bring down the company and damage his reputation.
“I chose to remain silent for a time because, from the beginning, I have been legally defending myself with the support of people who love and stand by me in this situation. I believe, by God’s grace, I will get through this.”
Chan sent his apologies to companies and brands associated with him and, therefore, affected by the situation while he thanked his supporters for their understanding.
Finally, Chan said he will continue to “fight” to clear his name.
“I am fighting and not running away from the case filed against me. I have worked hard on my career for more than a decade, and I will not allow the accusations of a few to end the beautiful future God has laid out for me.”
Full text of Chan’s statement in Filipino:
“Isang mapagpalang araw po sa inyong lahat.
Personal kong babasagin ang aking katahimikan sa kumakalat na version ng kaso na isinampa laban sa akin dahil sa pagkalugi ng itinayo naming negosyo na Café Claus na nagkaroon ng tatlong branches at nagsara. Hindi po ako nanloko ng tao, naitayo po ang negosyo ngunit hindi ito nagtagumpay.
Hindi po dahil ito ang amount na isinampa laban sa akin ay ito na ang buong katotohanan. Sasabihin ko po nang buong-buo ang actual na numero at detalye na masyado nang naging exaggerated dahil sariling panig pa lamang ng complainant ang inilabas nila.
May mga bagay kami na kailangang ipaglaban lalo na kung bakit naisampa ito bilang syndicated estafa, na kung tutuusin ay dapat umiikot lamang sa pagkalugi ng negosyo.
Ako naman po ang maglalabas ng mga detalye sa mga darating na pagkakataon dahil patuloy po ang pagdikdik sa akin ng mga taong gustong sirain ang pagkatao ko. Sa mga hakbang na ginawa nila mula pa noong nakaraang taon hanggang ngayon, makikita ninyo ang intensyon ng mga taong gusto akong pabagsakin.
Kaunting panahon po at ilalabas ko lahat ang katotohanan kung bakit nangyari ito sa kumpanya. Hindi po ako nanghingi lang ng pera at nanloko tulad ng akusasyon sa akin. Nalugi po ang Café Claus at isa sa malaking dahilan na rin ay dahil sa ilang business partners namin na nagplano para pabagsakin ang kumpanya at patuloy na sirain ang aking pangalan.
Pinili ko pong manahimik pansamantala dahil sa una pa lamang po ay inilalaban ko na ito legally, kasama ng mga taong nagmamahal at sumusuporta sa akin sa sitwasyon kong ito. Naniniwala ako na sa awa ng Panginoon ay mairaraos ko po ito.
Lumalaban po ako at hindi tumatakbo palayo sa isinampang kaso sa akin. 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.
Sa mga Companies at Brands na associated sa akin na naapektuhan sa sitwasyon na ito, paumanhin po sa inyong lahat. Babawi po ako sa inyo. Sa kabila ng lahat gusto kong magpasalamat sa pagsuporta at pag-unawa ninyo sa akin. Ramdam ko po ang pagmamahal ninyo.
At sa mga taong patuloy na nagmamahal at naniniwala sa akin, lalaban po ako. Patuloy po ninyo akong isama sa mga panalangin ninyo.
