THE founder of the Legacy Group is willing to plead guilty if the government drops the syndicated estafa charges against his family and other officers of his collapsed business empire.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Celso de los Angeles, head of the Legacy Group that is accused of swindling thousands of investors through a pyramid scheme, sent an emissary to his office to relay the message.

But Gonzalez said he was not likely to accept the offer because that would affect the cases filed against De los Angeles and other Legacy officers by the central bank, Securities and Exchange Commission, investors, plan holders and depositors.

The syndicated estafa cases would not stand if De los Angeles were the only respondent, he said.

The law says syndicated estafa could be filed if it had been committed by five or more persons.

?According to the emissary, he is offering to accept all the blame? He will plead guilty to everything provided that the rest of the respondents will be dropped, especially his family,? Gonzalez said.

He said the proposal would have to be studied further to find out if it would benefit the claimants.

?The most important thing here is we have to protect the interest of the victims. We hope they can recover what they have lost,? Gonzalez said.

But the Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday told plan holders that their claims would not be paid in full.

In an open letter to plan holders of the Legacy Group?s pre-need companies, the commission said their assets amounted to only P360 million, which was not enough to cover the estimated claims of P1 billion.

?Plan holders are advised not to expect the claims to be paid in full,? the commission said.

Also yesterday, De los Angeles? wife, Ma. Concepcion, and son Nicollo Martin went to Gonzalez?s office to assure him of their full cooperation in resolving the Legacy fund mess.

The mother and son were among those charged with syndicated estafa.

Accompanied by their lawyer Howard Calleja, the mother and son expressed their willingness to testify in favor of the state to give justice to Legacy?s victims.

They presented some documents on several properties, including vehicles that the government may confiscate to compensate the plan holders.

Meanwhile, the Parents Enabling Parents Coalition said the preliminary investigation of all the cases filed against Legacy must be conducted at the Justice Department to ensure the safety of witnesses.

In a letter addressed to Gonzalez, group witnesses Carolina Hinola and Namnama Pasetes also reassured the Justice Department of their full cooperation in the cases? investigation.

?We are, however, very much concerned about the safety of our families and ourselves in view of our commitment to reveal what we know of Legacy. We are very much willing to fully cooperate and tell the truth,? the two former Legacy officials said.

Cases against the Legacy Group have been filed in different parts of the country, and Hinola and Pasetes are among the respondents.

To investigate the bankrupt Legacy Group, President Arroyo has created an interagency task force to be led by the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.

The President gave the task force six months to conclude its investigation and submit its report to the Palace. Rey E. Requejo, Jenniffer B. Austria, Joyce Pangco Pa?ares