THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said complaints may be filed against the founder and officers of the Kapa-Community Ministry International, Inc. (KAPA) for violation of the Securities Regulation Code, but no complainants have so far come forward for an estafa charge. “As of this time wala pa (there are none). Wala pang private complainants or victims na gustong mag-file ng reklamo (There are still no private complainants or victims who want to file a complaint),” NBI-National Capital Region Director Cesar A. Bacani said. “One of the elements of estafa is damage,” he added. KAPA, a non-stock and independent religious corporation, was found by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to be soliciting investments from the public without the secondary license to be authorized for it. SEC issued a cease-and-desist order against KAPA in February but it still continued to operate. Its certificate of registration was revoked in April. The Court of Appeals has also issued a freeze order on KAPA’s several accounts and assets. President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday warned the Land Reform beneficiaries in the southern part of Mindanao that if they sell their lands and invest their money in KAPA, he will “punch” them one by one. “Ayaw lagi mo ana (Do not do it)… because KAPA is a continuing [crime]…. Large scale estafa is non-bailable,” Mr. Duterte said in his remarks in General Santos City after the distribution of certificates of land ownership to Agrarian Reform beneficiaries there. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Arjay L. Balinbin

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR