KAPA Community Ministry International, Inc. (Kapa) founder Pastor Joel Apolinario and seven other people were banned from leaving the country through an order from the Davao Regional Trial Court.

Last Monday, July 1, 2019, the Davao Regional Trial Court issued the Precautionary Hold Departure Order for Apolinario, Margie Apolinario Danao, Marisol Diaz, Adelfa Fernandico, Moises Mopia, Catherine Evangelista, and Rene Catubigan a.k.a Pastor Catubigon.

The order was issued in relation to a case against them and Kapa for violation of R.A. 8799 or “The Securities Regulation Code.” The case is currently pending for preliminary investigation.

The issuance of the order was also due to “a high probability that respondents will depart from the Philippines to evade arrest and prosecution of the above-indicated crimes, with imposable penalty of more than six years and one day.”

SunStar Philippines reported on June 18 that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a criminal case against Kapa for allegedly operating an investment scam. This is several days after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the closure of such investment entity when it was registered as a non-stock and independent religious corporation.

"The Commission found Kapa to have enticed the public to donate at least P10,000 in exchange for a 30 percent monthly 'blessing or 'love gift' for life, without having to do anything other than invest and wait for the payout," SEC earlier said in a statement.

The Precautionary Hold Departure Order immediately puts the involved people’s names on the Hold Departure List of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration offices nationwide.