Supreme Court junks P3-B suit filed by Kapa ‘donor’

The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition filed by a "donor" of the beleaguered Kapa Community Ministry International, Inc. which sought P3 billion in damages and the impeachment of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Court dismissed the petition by Rhema International Livelihood Foundation, Inc. or Cirfund during its en banc session on Tuesday, Court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said in a text message.

A source said the Court, which is established not to be a trier of facts, dismissed the petition for raising factual issues.

Rhema had sought P3 billion in damages for having been listed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an unregistered investment entity, which it said "destroyed" Cirfund, its "online platform project."

The corporate regulator listed Cirfund as one of 22 unregistered investment entities that supposedly solicit investments through social media. Rhema sought to be expunged from the list.

Rhema said it feared being treated like Kapa, which Duterte had ordered closed and the SEC had accused of amassing wealth through an investment scheme in the guise of religious donations.

The SEC has filed a complaint against Kapa for alleged violations of the Securities Regulation Code before the Department of Justice. None of its officers who were named in the complaint as respondents have been arrested.

In its petition, Rhema also sought SEC Chairman Emilio Aquino's dismissal from office and the president's impeachment. According to the Constitution, only the House of Representatives has the power to initiate all impeachment cases.  —NB, GMA News