The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and three investors of the Kapa Community Ministry International, Inc. on Monday filed a complaint against the religious corporation’s founder and 13 officers and employees for eight counts of syndicated estafa.
The NBI accompanied three complainants (identities have been withheld), the first of Kapa’s 3 million members to formally file a complaint.
The complainants include a female senior citizen from Dinagat Islands, who was duped of her retirement fund amounting PHP500,000; her 38-year-old son who invested PHP45,000; and a woman who invested PHP30,000.
Facing charges of five counts of violations of the Securities Regulations Code and eight counts of syndicated estafa are founder Pastor Joel Apolinario and 13 other officials of the group.
Also named in the charges were the firm’s incorporators namely Nonita S. Urbano, Junnie G. Apolinario, Nelia V. Nino, Maria Pella B. Sevilla, Jaquelyn A. del Castillo, Cristobal R. Barabad, and Joji A. Jusay.
Corporate secretary Reyna L. Apolinario, director and treasurer Modie S. Dagala, and corporate directors Benigno D. Tipan Jr., Marnilyn M. Maturan, Ricky A. Taer, and Margie A. Danao.
KAPA, short for Kabus Padatoon (Making the Poor Rich) receives donations or in the form of “love, gifts and/or blessings” from its members. However, the SEC said these “gifts” are actually investments, with promised returns that are mathematically impossible to sustain. Instead, the regulator said it was actually a pyramid scheme, which sources the payouts for its older members from the money handed over by new recruits.
Several Kapa officials are already being investigated by DOJ prosecutors for separate charges of violation of the SRC that were filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
President Rodrigo Duterte also ordered Kapa closed.
Kapa members are holding rallies to protest the government crackdown.