Kapa officers snub DOJ probe of SEC complaint

None of the officers of the Kapa Community Ministry International, Inc. accused by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of violating the securities law showed up at the start of a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation on Friday.

The Kapa officers were also unrepresented by a lawyer during the first hearing of the DOJ's preliminary investigation of the corporate regulator's complaint, during which two SEC witnesses, Lester Bautista and Bryant Chang, subscribed to their affidavits before a prosecutor.

The respondents, who include Kapa founder Joel Apolinario, failed to attend the hearing despite having been notified, said Assistant State Prosecutor Zenamar Machacon-Caparros, one of the three prosecutors investigating the complaint.

The SEC has accused several officers of Kapa of violating the Securities Regulation Code after finding it allegedly enticed the public to donate at least P10,000 in exchange for a 30% monthly “blessing” or “love gift” for life, “without having to do anything other than invest and wait for the payout.”

The government has tagged the religious corporation as having been involved in an investment scam.

The SEC is expected to bring its other witnesses to the DOJ on July 15, the resumption of the preliminary investigation, which will determine whether or not the Kapa officers will be charged in court.

SEC lawyer Jose Aquino said some of the witnesses will be coming from their extension offices in the provinces and that there is "no problem" in bringing them to Manila for the investigation. 

Asked why the SEC did not include the treasurer of Kapa as a respondent, Aquino said: "Most probably because we have identified somebody who's holding the money of the corporation."

"If ever we have to include names, we make sure that we are certain of the identity of the defendants," he said.

A Davao City court has issued a precautionary hold departure order against eight Kapa officers to prevent them from leaving the Philippines. Apart from Apolinario, the order covers respondents Reyna Apolinario, Margie Apolinario Danao, Catherine Evangelista, Rene Catubigan, Marisol Diaz, Adelfa Fernandico, and Moises Mopia. —KBK, GMA News