Kapa members protest shutdown: Parang na-scam kami ng gobyerno

Members of the  Kapa-Community Ministry International Inc. from different provinces gathered in General Santos City on Wednesday to urge the government not to shut down its operations.

According GMA News' John Consulta's report on "24 Oras", supporters traveled all the way from Bohol, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, and Bukidnon to express their support for the religious group which President Rodrigo Duterte said was an investment scam.

For them, Kapa has done them good financially and was not a scam.

"'Yung gobyerno na lang 'yung, parang, nagpasara. So parang na-scam kami ng government. Feeling namin ganu'n, kaya andito kami para ilabas talaga namin nga 'yung support namin para sa Kapa" a supporter, Grapes Pacara, said. 

"Good naman talaga 'yung intensyon. Wala namang nag-reklamo. Madami kaming miyembro na natulungan, at least, 'yun na lang sana yung mga-feel ni Digong," she added.

This was after Duterte ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to shut down the alleged "pyramiding" scam.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has already issued a cease and desist order (CDO) for the organization to stop soliciting investments without the proper license last February.

Authorities were still looking for Kapa's officials, including its founder, Pastor Joel Apolinario as of Wednesday.

Kapa members were reportedly promised a monthly interest rate of 30 percent.   

Workers at the Gensan fish were among their members still hoping to cash in from their investments.

Many of them have decided not to come in to work the next day to join the cause as they hope to use the money to send their children to school this year.

"'Yung victims nila parang, kahit ma-scam, kasi bawi nila yung pera eh. Sobra-sobra pa,"  Diosdado Cawit said. —Margaret Claire Layug/NB, GMA News