Duterte’s order prompted NBI to shutdown Kapa Ministry

An official of the National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday said the NBI has gathered evidence spanning two years against Kapa-Community Ministry International Inc., but President Rodrigo Duterte’s order prompted the bureau to hasten its shut down.

“‘Yung utos po ni Presidente ay napabilis ‘yung aksyon ng NBI. Medyo nasa radar na po ng NBI ‘yan for the past two years, may mga ebidensya na tayong nakuha sa kanila. Ito lang mandato ng Presidente, ito ‘yung nagpabilis ng aksyon ng NBI,” NBI spokesperson Nick Suarez said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

On Saturday, Duterte ordered the NBI and the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to stop the operations of Kapa Ministry.

Suarez said the NBI launched simultaneous operations against Kapa Ministry last Monday by virtue of a search warrant from the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Fourteen teams led by Deputy Director for Regional Operations Services Antonio Pagaspas staged operations in Cagayan Valley, Quezon City, Rizal, Tacloban City, Tagum City, Cagayan de Oro, and General Santos, the NBI official noted.

The bureau also raided the home of Kapa founder Pastor Joel Apolinario, Suarez said.

“Maraming nakuha na dokumento, records, books ... all proving na ‘yung Kapa ay na-violate ‘yung ating Securities Regulation Code. Sa ngayon lahat ng na-confiscate ay bi-ne-verify ng NBI para yung appropriate charges ay ma-file laban sa kanila,” he said.

The Securities and Exchange Commission in March made permanent its cease and desist order (CDO) against Kapa to stop soliciting investments without the proper license. 

On February 14, the SEC issued a CDO on the basis of evidence that Kapa Ministry offered and sold securities in the form of investment contracts and in the guise of donations, even without the necessary licenses.

The CDO was served by the SEC on February 21 at the last known address of Kapa in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, and at the residential addresses of incorporators Nonita Urbano and Junnie Apolinario. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/VDS, GMA News