NBI braces for 'influx' of complaints vs. Kapa, Alamcco

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) here is bracing for the possible influx of complaints in the coming days from victims of investment schemes operated by a controversial religious group and a cooperative based in Sarangani province.

Lawyer Regner Peneza, head of the NBI Sarangani district office, said Monday they are preparing in case complainants would surface and pursue charges against Kapa Community Ministry International Inc. and the Alabel Maasim Credit Cooperative (Alamcco).

Peneza said their office is ready to assist victims in filing possible estafa charges against the Kapa and Alamcco operators.

"Our office and other district and field units of the NBI are open to receive and process any complaint," he said in an interview over radio station Brigada News FM here.

The NBI, led by agents from the National Capital Region, launched a series of raids last week against Kapa and Alamcco for alleged violation of Republic Act 8799 or the Securities Regulation Code.

The raids, anchored on search warrants issued by a Manila court, followed after the directive of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to shut down the operations of Kapa and other illegal investment firms.  

Among those searched were the house of Kapa founder Pastor Joel Apolinario in this city, as well the ministry's offices in parts of the country. The offices of Alamcco in Alabel town, Sarangani, and the neighboring areas were also searched.    

Peneza said the pieces of evidence seized during the search operations were all brought to the NBI in Manila and is now being processed for the filing of formal charges.

Kapa and Alamcco had earlier been flagged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for allegedly soliciting investments from the public in the form of donations and memberships at monthly payouts of 30 and 35 percent, respectively.

Kapa, which boasts of around 5 million members, started in 2015 as a registered religious group but the SEC has since revoked its permit and issued a permanent cease and desist order against its operations in April.

Peneza said the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was tasked to run after the other existing illegal investment entities.

As a result of the crackdown, he said they expect the operations of Kapa and Alamcco to cease and will no longer process further pay-ins and payouts for investments.

"This will eventually result to a situation wherein some investors will no longer receive payments and they will have no other else to turn to but the law enforcement agencies like the NBI and CIDG," Peneza said.

But as of Monday morning, the official said they have not received any formal complaint from investors of Kapa and Alamcco.

"Unfortunately, we have none yet. Maybe the situation has yet to sink in on the investors and they are still hoping against hope of getting their money back and even receive further payouts," he added.

Kapa legal counsels criticized the government's move, pointing out that a regional court has earlier ordered the SEC from enforcing its stoppage order on the ministry. SEC officials, however, argued that its regulatory actions and decisions can only be stopped by the Court of Appeals. (PNA)