THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided a satellite office of the controversial Kapa Community Ministry International in Zone 5, Igpit, Opol town, Misamis Oriental on Monday afternoon, June 10.
NBI agents served a search warrant against Kapa, represented by Analiza Dangcalan, the alleged Kapa area manager of the Misamis Oriental branch.
The search warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 20 in Manila, signed by 1st Vice Executive Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali.
Lawyer Patricio Bernales, NBI-Northern Mindanao regional director, said the court found probable cause to believe that the Kapa violated Republic Act 8799 otherwise known as the Securities Regulation Code.
The group allegedly started collecting investments from the public with a promise of 30 percent interest every month.
“The president is ordering us all, not only NBI, to do the investigation against this Kapa,” he said.
However, during the raid, the Kapa office was closed. Only two guards and some personnel were at the office.
As of this Monday, the NBI is still conducting inventory on the seized items, such as money, identification cards of the alleged “investors”, a vault believed to be containing more money, among others.
At least two separate raids were conducted in the region, the other against Kapa branch in Valencia City, Bukidnon.
Lawyer Renato Egypto, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regional director in Northern Mindanao said Kapa, short for Kabus Padatuon, started its operation as a religious organization some time in 2017, in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.
On March 8, 2017, however the SEC already issued an advisory against Kapa, saying the group was not authorized to solicit investments.
In October 2018, the SEC issued another warning against Kapa over the same issues.
Last February, the SEC issued a permanent cease and desist order against Kapa.
Egypto, however, said despite these orders, the group kept on operating.