(UPDATED) Two persons were killed and another was wounded when police arrested Kapa-Community Ministry International (Kapa) founder Joel Apolinario in an isolated resort in Lingig, Surigao del Sur Tuesday, July 21, 2020, about five months after a local court ordered his arrest over investment fraud charges.
A report from the Caraga Police Regional Office said police were serving arrest and search warrants against Apolinario at around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday when his followers engaged them in a firefight.
Two unidentified men were killed while a certain Melecio Siano was wounded. Aside from Apolinario, 23 others were reportedly arrested.
The police report said the arrest warrant that the police served to Apolinario was issued by a Regional Trial Court in Cagayan de Oro City for syndicated estafa.
Police said they recovered the following from the crime scene in Sitio Dahican, Barangay Handamayan: 30 units of M16 rifle; two units of M4 rifle; one Garand rifle; three M60 machine guns; one 50 caliber sniper rifle; three caliber 22 rifles; one Carbine rifle; one shotgun; two RPG; five caliber 45 pistols and assorted ammunition.
Kapa spokesperson Bong Cagape, however, said in a Facebook post that Apolinario surrendered to the police.
“Sumuko na sa batas si founder Joel Apolinario para harapin sa batas ang mga paratang sa kanya nandoon napo ang mga legal team para mag-asikaso,” Cagape said.
“Pero ‘wag po tayong mag-alala dahil magpapatuloy po ang mga plano na pagpapatakbo ng mga negosyo para sa mga malilikom ay magbabalik na ng mga perang dinonate ng mga members. Continue praying po sa ating Pastor Joel at malampasan po nating lahat ang kinakaharap ngayon,” he added.
Warrants of arrest were also issued on February 11, 2020 by the Regional Trial Court of Bislig City against Apolinario and other officers of Kapa over investment fraud charges.
The charges stemmed from a complaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 18, 2019, accusing Kapa officers of unauthorized sale or offering for sale or distribution of securities to the general public.
The SEC said Kapa enticed the public to invest at least P10,000 in exchange for a 30 percent monthly return for life, in violation of Republic Act No. 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code (SRC).
The SEC also found Kapa to have employed a Ponzi scheme, an investment program that offers impossibly high returns and pays investors using the money contributed by other investors.
In September 2019, the Department of Justice affirmed the findings of SEC and found probable cause to charge Kapa. (SunStar Philippines)