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MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday, July 5, filed with the justice department a criminal complaint against the leaders and members of Kapa-Community Ministry International (Kapa) for 8 counts of syndicated estafa and 5 counts of violation of the securities code.
This is the first estafa complaint filed against Kapa by the NBI and private complainants Virginia Ampo, Kim Ampo, and Judith Lechido. It was released to the media on Monday, July 8.
An NBI investigation earlier found Kapa’s activity to be an “investment scam and in violation of the Securities Regulation Code (SRC).”
The syndicated estafa charges follow a Securities and Exchange Commission filing where Kapa was charged for violating the SRC. (READ: EXPLAINER: How Kapa Ministry took advantage of investors)
Included in the complaint are the folowing:
- Joel A. Apolinario, president of Kapa
- Nonita S. Urbano
- Junnie G. Apolinario
- Nelio V. Nino
- Maria Pella B. Sevilla
- Jouelyn A. Del Castillo
- Cristobal R. Barabad
- Joji A. Jusay
- Reyna L. Apolinario
- Modie S. Dagala
- Benigno D. Tipan, Jr.
- Marniliyn M. Maturan
- Ricky A. Taer.
- Margie A. Danao
- A number of unnamed officers and employees of the Kapa offices in Sarangani Province, Quezon City, and Taytay, Rizal
Syndicated estafa is a non-bailable offense. The Department of Justice will now look into whether the complaint has enough basis to be brought to court.
The complaint said Kapa was swindling people through “solicitation of money/investment from the public in the guise of ‘donations’ with a promise of perpetual monthly interest equivalent to 30% return/interest in the guise of ‘blessings.'” (READ: SEC secures over P100 million of Kapa Ministry’s assets)
In short, a pyramiding investment scam, said the NBI.
The DOJ created on July 17 a five-man panel to conduct the preliminary investigation.
Assistant State Prosecutor (ASP) Ma. Lourdes Uy will head the panel, with Assistant Prosecution Attorney Luis Miguel Flores and ASPs Consuelo Corazon Pazzluagan, Xerxes Garcia, and Jeanette Dacpano as members.
The crackdown on Kapa came after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered its shutdown, despite protests from member-donors in Duterte’s home island group of Mindanao. – Rappler.com
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