Report: Tomawis’ kidnappers victims of Rasuman scam

CAGAYAN DE ORO - Persons who kidnapped the brother-in-law of Jachob “Coco” Rasuman were reportedly hired by investors who were victims of the Rasuman investment scam, intelligence reports said Wednesday.

The abductors of Henry Khalid Tomawis were reportedly hired to do the job in the amount of P500,000 but were paid only P150,000 by the group of alleged investors who promised to pay the remaining balance as soon as they will get the ransom they demanded from the victim’s family.

The intelligence report obtained by Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro also disclosed that Tomawis is being guarded by heavily armed men in an undisclosed area somewhere in Lanao del Norte.

Lawyer Ricardo Diaz, NBI regional director, said NBI District Office in Iligan City is still monitoring the incident and closely coordinating with the family of the victim as of Wednesday.

“Hindi pa talaga na-release ang victim but walang exact amount sa ransom ang lumabas,” he told Sun.Star.

Tomawis, son of Sultan Yahya “Jerry” Tomawis, one of the respondents in the financial investment scam led by his brother-in-law Coco Rasuman, was abducted last March 2 while on his way home in Pala-o, Iligan City.

Based on reports, the younger Tomawis was abducted around 5 p.m. in Sitio Payawan, Barangay Dadapa Ali in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte. His car was later found abandoned in Barangay Pakalundo, also in Balo-i.

The victim’s family has identified possible suspects, but the NBI declined to name the alleged investors pending further verification.

Diaz said he is hoping that the kidnappers will release Tomawis as soon as the ransom they demanded is given to them.

He said the younger Tomawis was abducted, so the investors could get their investment from the Rasuman group back.

The abduction occurred after Rasuman failed to pay back his investors who put up millions of pesos in a double-your-money-back scheme.

Rasuman’s deadline to repay the investors expired last February 28. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)