CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 3 Dec) – Investors of Jachob “Coco” Rasuman’s pyramiding investment scam may be paid “partial” of what they invested by mid-December, according to Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong.
Adiong, who was in town over the weekend, told reporters that before Rasuman’s arrest in Marawi City last week, Rasuman told him and the crisis committee “he will pay partial to the investors by December 15.”
“Coco also said that he will pay those who invested in him by February,” added Adiong.
On November 22, a resolution by the Department of Justice (DOJ) special panel of prosecutors recommended a syndicated estafa charges against Rasuman and his investment agents, who were allegedly involved in a P120-million investment made by one Abuamar Sambitory to the Rasumans. Like Sambitory, 24 other investors filed similar complaints with the DOJ.
Also charged with syndicated estafa at the Regional Trial Court here are his father (former Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Bashir Dimaampo Rasuman), Emma Amer Rasuman, Jerome Amer Rasuman, Bashir Rasuman Jr., Jamila Rasuman-Tomawis, Amer Tomawis, Princess Allah Tomawis Rasuman, Jermiah Amer Rasuman, Jalaima Rasuman-Mangarin and Jamirie Amer Rasuman.
Although most of those charged with Rasuman have gone into hiding, Adiong said he is sure “they are still here in the Philippines.” He posited that the spark of violent incidents after the discovery of another quick-rich scam, Aman Futures Group Philippines, Inc., happened because there was no crisis committee created to diffuse the ire of the short-changed investors.
Adiong said that while he has not invested with the Rasumans, most of his relatives had. “Many of the Maranao have invested with them. I guess the investments would be at least around a billion,” he added.
“What the investors want is to at least return their principal amount,” he said.
Rasuman and his relatives, posing as directors and officers of NAD Auto Opinion Corporation, lured investors by presenting a double-your-money scheme and even luxury vehicles as part of the returns of their investments. Those who invested were promised between 85 to 150-percent return within two months.
“I hope no rido (clan war) will erupt. But, together with the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the PNP (Philippine National Police), the provincial government is on top of the situation and is working to ensure there will be no violence in relation to this incident,” said Adiong. (Cong B. Corrales / MindaNews)