Mayor probed for KAPA links

MANILA, Philippines — The mayor of Lingig town in Surigao del Sur is among those under investigation in connection with the arrest of Kapa Community Ministry International Inc. founder Joel Apolinario for syndicated estafa.

Mayor Roberto Luna Jr., who is in President Duterte’s narco list, is being probed for allegedly coddling Apolinario and his followers, according to Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr., Caraga police director.

Esquivel said they received information that a 20-hectare property in Barangay Handamayan, where Apolinario went into hiding starting last year, was either bought or rented from Luna.

“Ikaw ang mayor, ikaw pa ang magpapaarkila o magbebenta ng lupa,” Esquivel said in an interview over dzBB.

The property is on an island that is surrounded by an 11-foot-high wall.

Security forces said it took them about 10 hours to reach Apolinario’s hideout.

“They were armed to the teeth. Hindi lang security guards kundi ng private army,” Esquivel said.

Apolinario and 23 of his alleged escorts were arrested on Tuesday. Two of his men were killed and another was wounded in a reported shootout with law enforcers.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said a task force is looking into reports that some police officers, soldiers and other govenrment employees were involved in KAPA’s investment scam.

Apolinario and several other KAPA officials were charged with syndicated estafa and violation of the Securities Regulation Code, which prohibits Ponzi schemes that offer impossibly high returns and pay investors using the money contributed by the other investors.

KAPA officials reportedly enticed the public to invest P10,000 in exchange for a 30 percent montly ”blessing” or ”love gift” for life.