MANILA, Philippines - Kidnappers of Henry Khalid Tomawis, brother-in-law of pyramiding scam suspect Jachob “Coco†Rasuman, are asking for P200 million in exchange for his release, according to a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) source.
“They asked (Tomawis’) family to pay P200 million or return their investments lost to the scam,†the source said.
Nine families who were victimized by Rasuman’s multimillion-peso investment scam have reportedly owned up to the kidnapping in Lanao del Norte.
Tomawis, together with three companions, was cruising along Barangay Payawan in Baloi town when 20 heavily armed men blocked his path and seized him last March 2, according to a three-page report of the NBI-Iligan district office.
Some of the armed men, according to the NBI report, took over Tomawis’ Mitsubishi Montero and fled with him. The vehicle was found in another Baloi village the following day.
The kidnapping came two days after talks between the investors and the Rasuman family bogged down.
Rasuman, who is now standing trial for cases of syndicated estafa in Cagayan de Oro City, failed to make good his promise to pay back his investors by the end of February.
Rasuman’s trial though has been stalled due to the request of the Department of Justice to transfer its venue to Manila.
Since the cases were filed last November, the other accused have remained at large, namely Rasuman’s father and former Public Works and Highways undersecretary Bashir Rasuman, and relatives Emma Rasuman, Jeremiah “Maning†Amer Rasuman, Jamirie Amer Rasuman, Jerome Amer Rasuman, Bashir Rasuman Jr., Jamila Rasuman Tomawis, Jalaima Rasuman Mangarun, Amer Tomawis, and Princess Aliah Tomawis Rasuman.