Thousands of Kapa members to join GenSan rally vs. gov't crackdown

Thousands of Kapa-community members are expected to join the prayer rally in General Santos City on Thursday to appeal against the government’s crackdown on their group.

Around a thousand members arrived early at the city's Pedro Acharon Sports Complex in Calumpang, according to a report by John Consulta on GMA News’ Unang Balita.

Kapa members said more members are expected to join the event later in the day, coming from different areas, including:  Coronadal, Saranggani, Digos, Kidapawan, Agusan del Sur, Zamboanga, Bukidnon, South Cotabato, and Iligan.

Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order, cops have intensified the crackdown on suspected investment scams.

Earlier, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched a crackdown on investment scams, including the Kapa-Community Ministry International, Inc.

SEC Chairperson Emilio Benito Aquino said the Court of Appeals issued a freeze order on several bank accounts and other assets of Kapa in response to the petition of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

The commission issued a cease and desist order against Kapa in February and made it permanent in March. 

SEC said Kapa offered and sold securities in the form of investment contracts and in the guise of donations, even without license.

Some of Kapa members belied that the investment scheme of their groups was a scam.

Despite the protest actions, Kapa president, co-founder and pastor Joel A. Apolinario has not showed up yet at the group's rallies. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News