By Daisy CL Mandap
Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre
has issued a stern warning to Filipino migrant workers in Hong
Kong against putting in money on KAPA Worldwide Ministry, in the
wake of the government’s move to stop its operations.
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| Labatt asks, 'Hindi pa ba kayong nagsawang magpaloko?' |
He then added, obviously in frustration: “Sabagay kung
marami kang perang naipon at gusto mong lustayin sa isang scam, sige magsawa
ka.”
KAPA, which also goes by the names KAPA Kabus Padatuon
(Enrich the Poor), KAPA/ KAPPA (Kabus Padutoon), and KAPA-Co Convenience Store
and General Merchandise, was stripped of its registration by the SEC on April 3
this year for “serious misrepresentation on what it can do or is doing to the
prejudice and damage of the public.”
The en banc decision said the revocation of KAPA’s
certificate of incorporation was due to its act of offering and selling
investments in the guise of donations without the necessary license and in a
manner resembling a Ponzi scheme, otherwise known as “pyramiding”.
But in spite of the SEC decision, many Filipinos, including
those working abroad, appear determined to keep putting money into the
organization, which despite claiming to be a religious group, does not have
churches, only offices and companies.
And it’s all because, as in previous other scams which
victimized hundreds of OFWs in Hong Kong like Emgoldex, the promised return is
exceedingly high. In the case of KAPA, “donors” are promised no less than 30%
interest monthly.
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| KAPA founder Apolinario promises monthly 'blessings' of at least 30% of the 'donation' |
According to its website, www.kapamilyonaryo.com, KAPA which
means “Kadatu Ang Padulngan Apil Komunidad” or “On the way to getting rich,
along with the community,” was founded two years ago by Joel A. Apolinario, who
claims to be a pastor.
Those who want to become members must donate money
directly to Apolinario “for the propagation of religious faith, establishment
of livelihood programs for the benefit of its members.”
The minimum donation is Php5,000 and the maximum is Php1million.
In exchange, a “donor” is guaranteed a minimum monthly “love gifts” or
blessings of 30% of the donated amount.
“The more you give, the more you receive,” says its
website, adding that the amount of the interest or “blessing” is the
prerogative of the founder.
Specially targeted are overseas Filipino workers, who
are urged to send their donations to trusted “sponsors” who will transact in
their stead at Kapa offices. “In one year or two years mong hindi kukunin ang
Monthly Blessings mo... pwede kana mag for good dito sa Pinas kasama ang Family
mo,” said the website.
What is not made clear is how Apolinario intends to
make enough to pay back the hefty interest that he promises to members, except
perhaps from the additional donations he expect to keep pouring in.
Although there are pictures of businesses he and his
wife are supposed to be invested in, even a picture of a helicopter he’s said
to have bought from the donations, there is no mention of any livelihood or
religious project that has been set up for the group.
Neither is there an accountability to anyone,
including the government. The site says it is tax-exempt as it is a religious
organization.
Despite the scrapping of its SEC registration, KAPA
continues to operate 18 offices across the country, all of them in Mindanao , except one, which is located in Taytay, Rizal.
More interestingly, no one has been arrested over the
presumed scam. Neither has anyone come out publicly to complain about having
lost money in KAPA.
This is presumably because the investments are still
pouring in, or knowing that they were asked for a donation, the members know
there is a possibility they will not get back anything in return.
But there could be another reason. A report published
in Mindanews on May 22 said that
among those who put money in KAPA and other illegal investment schemes in the
region are ranking officials and members of the Philippine National Police.
The report quoted Brig. Gen Eliseo Tam Rasco, regional
director of the Police Regional office-12, as saying: “According to our
estimates, billions of pesos have been lost to these fraudulent investment
schemes. The numbers keep on rising as of this moment.”
While reports of those being scammed keep coming in, Rasco
said many people are still lining up everyday to cash in, obviously eager to
take advantage of the windfall, knowing that the pyramid could collapse at any
time.
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