The Caraga police on Tuesday arrested Kapa Ministry founder Joel Apolinario and 23 others in Surigao del Sur. The serving of Apolinario’s warrant of arrest ended up into a shooting encounter resulting in the death of 2 persons.
High-caliber guns were confiscated from the suspects. The Philippine National Police (PNP) is investigating if there are police personnel or military men involved in Apolinario’s private armed group.
“Hindi lang ng kapulisan o AFP, lahat ng member ng gobyerno (Not only the police or AFP, all members of the government. Probably in the interview that we will conduct on the 23 personalities that we have apprehended, baka pwede silang magsalita to help us on this (they might speak up and help us on this),” PNP Chief Archie Gamboa said.
Apolinario is facing Syndicated Estafa due to Kapa’s illegal investment scheme promising a lifetime return of investment with 30% interest for a donation of not less than Php 10,000. Billions of pesos were swindled from Kapa’s investors.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte previously demanded the shutdown of Kapa’s operations. A task group will be created to focus on the complaints against Kapa.
“Nasa atin si Apolinario so that kung mayroon man pwedeng i-claim ‘yung mga na-swindle niya dati, at least mayroon tayo (We have Apolinario so if there will be claimants of what he swindled, at least we have it),” Gamboa declared.
“We just take the lead unless the Department of Justice would later on take cognizance of all of this,” Gamboa added.
– Report from Bea Bernardo
