KAPA FOUNDER FACES MULTIPLE CHARGES AFTER ARRESTED BY POLICE FORCES

BUTUAN CITY – KAPA Community Ministry International Incorporated founder Pastor Joel Apolinario together with his wife and other 24 private armed companions arrived in Butuan City the day after their arrest in a secluded resort in Sitio Dahikan, Barangay Salvacion, Lingig, Surigao del Sur on July 21, after 7-months of surveillance operation conducted by the PNP Caraga.

The fugitive pastor allegedly owned the secluded resort. According to the authorities, it took them 4 hours before penetrating the place because it is an ambush prone area.

The Deputy Regional Director for Operations of PRO 13 Police Colonel Roger Quesada said that the troupes of Pastor Apolinario initiated the shooting at the raiding team resulting in the death of 2 ministry members and another 1 injured.

"Travel time more or less four hours, so during the whole night nag-tatravel ang tropa, then the approach, nagapproach by beach lang, and the other group of kernel Laging, inaproach namin dito sa harapan dito sa main gate, so sabay po yan na pumasok. Unfortunately lumaban po yung tao niya dito sa may beach landing, so doon po nagkaroon ng bakbakan," PCol. Roger Quesada said.

(The travel time was more or less 4 hours, so we were traveling for the whole night. Our approach was just by the beach while another group of Col. Laging approached the main gate upfront. Our troupes entered the area at the same time, but unfortunately, the pastor’s men fought back at the beach landing, and that started the encounter.)

During the raid operation, the police forces confiscated the following:

· 30 M16 rifle units

· 2 M4 rifle units

· 1 Garand rifle unit

· 4 7.62 light machine guns units

· 1 Caliber 50 sniper rifle unit

· 3 Caliber .22 rifle units

· 1 Carbine unit

· 1 shotgun unit

· 2 RPG units

· 5 Caliber .45 pistol units

· 2 Rocket-propelled grenades

· Some rounds of ammunition for various caliber

Some of the 24 members turned private armed companions of the pastor are minors. Meanwhile, the authorities turned over his children to the DSWD.

Pastor Apolinario is facing charges of syndicated estafa, direct assault for his defiance to the police forces, illegal firearms, and illegal association for assembling a private armed group, while his armed men might be charged for illegal firearms.

Investors of KAPA Ministry, especially those who are not able to get their payouts are asking if they can still get their money back. With this, the PNP Chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said that they would form a task force to accommodate the complainants.

"We will just create a special task group, purposely first to take care of all the complainants and the possibility of facilitating their claim over the properties and bank accounts attached. But of course, this is a legal procedure," said PGen. Archie Francisco Gamboa

The captives are in the custody of the PNP Caraga, while the charges filed against them are still in process.