Google map of Lingig, Surigao del Sur.
BUTUAN CITY – The Police Regional Office in Caraga Region (PRO-13) confirmed the arrest of Joel A. Apolinario, the controversial founder of Kabos Padatoon or Kapa Community Ministry, who has been subject to manhunt following the release of several warrants of arrests for large-scale syndicated estafa.
Maj. Renel Serrano, PRO-13 public information officer, told the Philippine News Agency that Apolinario, 46, was arrested Tuesday and is currently under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Serrano said PRO-13 is still waiting for the official report of the PNP in Lingig and from the Surigao del Sur Provincial Police Office (SDSPPO) on the details of Apolinario's arrest.
Serrano declined to provide more details pending the release of the official police report.
A separate source within law enforcement who asked not to be named for this story, however, said Apolinario was arrested by the PNP in a resort in Barangay Handamayan, Lingig, Surigao del Sur.
The source said a gunfight broke out between the arresting officers and Apolinario’s men before the Kapa founder was finally captured.
Two of Apolinario’s men were killed while another one was wounded during the firefight, the source said, adding authorities also seized from the encounter site assorted high-power firearms and ammunition.
Apolinario and some top members of Kapa Community Ministry are facing criminal charges for syndicated estafa for investment fraud by selling securities to the public without a government license.
Under Kapa’s scheme, investors were lured to pour in their cash investments with promises of high financial returns.
After the Kapa Ministry was ordered closed by President Rodrigo Duterte himself last year, many investors have sought help from the government to get their investments back from Apolinario’s group. (PNA)
