Violence feared as Rasuman deadline to pay victims ends

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The regional prosecutor for Northern Mindanao fears that investors of Jachob “Coco” Rasuman in Lanao del Norte and the rest of the region would take the law into their own hands if the millions of pesos they lost in his pyramiding scam could not be returned.

Regional prosecutor Jaime Umpa said violence could be committed and innocent people hurt, especially in the Lanao provinces, if Rasuman fails to make the payment after the deadline ended yesterday.

Sultan Yahya “Jerry” Tomawis, Rasuman’s father-in-law, can still be arrested despite the dismissal of two syndicated estafa cases against him, Umpa added.

Judge Bonifacio Macabaya dismissed the cases against Tomawis after the two complainants, Achmad Sangcaan and Naim Sampao, executed affidavits of desistance.

Prosecutors, however, said Sampao has recanted his affidavit of desistance.

Umpa said Sampao changed his mind because of the failure of Rasuman’s group to pay him back.