ROXAS City – Patrocenio Calvez Chiyuto Jr., popularly known as Don Chiyuto and the chief executive officer of a double-your-money investment scheme here and Capiz province, was allegedly kidnapped on March 16 at around 5:30 p.m. at his residence in BF Resort Village, Las Piñas City, Metro Manila.
The “Don Chiyuto” Facebook page disclosed this the other day, backed by a related post in the Philippine National Police (PNP) Facebook claiming that several suspects have been arrested.
It’s unclear who is managing the “Don Chiyuto” Facebook account but the one who posted about the alleged kidnapping identified himself or herself as a close relative of Chiyuto.
Also posted were what appeared to be video footages from closed circuit television cameras purportedly showing the alleged kidnapping by at least 15 armed men.
Chiyuto had not been seen in this city or Capiz since last month after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoked the registration of Chiyuto Creative Wealth Document Facilitation Services for running an unregistered “double-your-money” roulette game scheme. Investors were asking for their payouts or demanding that their investments be returned.
The PNP, meanwhile, announced having arrested six kidnap suspects on Thursday last week and that it launched a “hot pursuit of other personalities.”
According to the PNP, it was Chiyuto’s live-in partner Diana Custodio Cortez who informed it about the alleged kidnapping on March 17.
As this was being written yesterday, Chiyuto’s whereabouts remained unknown despite the arrest of the supposed kidnap suspects.
But his camp denied the kidnapping was a “drama” or staged.
“Hindi po ito biro na pati sila (PNP) ay dramahan ni Don, dahil ang kanilang tungkulin at kredibilidad ang naksalalay dito. At kung ito drama ng pamilya ni Don, kami mismo pwede makulong. Yan ang unang-una nyong ilagay sa mga isip nyo,” according to a relative.
“Hinihingi ko po sa inyo prayers. Sana buhay pa si Don para maharap kayong lahat. Pero kung puro kayo paninira na wala naman kayong alam, kung maari manahimik muna hangga’t hindi pa namin natatagpuan si Don,” the relative added.
According to this relative, Chiyuto made himself scarce recently because of the many threats he received.
“Hindi po sya nagtatago. Nasa bahay lang po sya…may nagsabi sa kanya na may gustong kumidnap sa kanya noon pa,” said the relative./PN
