The office of Assistant State Prosecutor Maria Lourdes Uy said the first hearing of the preliminary investigation of the complaint was held last Thursday, but none of the respondents was able to file a counter-affidavit.
The NBI filed the complaint before the DOJ last July 7, and named Apolinario and 13 of Kapa’s top officials as respondents. “The modus/scheme of KAPA is basically solicitation of money/investment from the public in the guise of ‘donation’ with a promise of perpetual monthly interest equivalent to 30 percent return/interest in the guise of ‘blessings,” the complaint read.
“KAPA made it appear that the collection from the public of investment money is an act of a religious donation and the grant of investment is a form of religious blessing,” it added.