Rasuman relieved by arrest, says NBI agent

The main gate of the Aman Futures office compound remains locked in Pagadian City. FILE PHOTO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines—Jachob “Coco” Rasuman, prime suspect in one of the biggest financial scams in Mindanao, showed “signs of relief” when he was arrested at his home in Marawi City on Tuesday, a National Bureau of Investigation official said Wednesday.

NBI Special Investigator 3 Froilan Grahida said Rasuman and members of his family were expecting the authorities to arrive and arrest him.

“The moment we knocked at the gates of their white house, we were let in and faced by Rasuman,” Grahida said.

Grahida, NBI-Northern Mindanao Director Jose Doloiras, NBI agents, police and Army soldiers arrested Rasuman at his mansion known as “White House”  in Marawi City on Tuesday afternoon.

Grahida said that Rasuman did not resist arrest but instead “showed signs of relief.”

“Besides, he could not resist; we had two V150 fighting Simba armored vehicles, provided by Brig. General Daniel Lucero,” chief of the 103rd Brigade, Grahida said.

Grahida said that even his family wanted Coco to be arrested for his and their families’ safety.

He said the Rasumans told the NBI that they feared for their safety and sequestered themselves in their Marawi mansion.

“They could not move out, they could not get out. They were like prisoners because of the threat to their lives,” Grahida said.

Coco promised to pay his victims, “but many are losing hope, and they want to get Rasuman or his family,” Grahida said.

Grahida described the arrest as something for the movies: transferring a high risk, high value target many people wanted to get their hands on. “But this time, they wanted to rescue him and kill him themselves,” he said.

He added that the Rasumans have asked for security. “So many people want to get them,” Grahida said.

The arrest of Rasuman, who has been charged with syndicated estafa, was ordered by Judge Bonifacio Macabaya of the Regional Trial Court Branch 20.

Doloiras, the NBI regional director, said 25 complaints have been filed with the city prosecutor’s office, even as the NBI continues to investigate the case.

Cagayan de Oro prosecutor Fidel Macauyag said that the trial will be held in Cagayan de Oro.