CA affirms ruling vs religious group
The Court of Appeals in Manila. | BG PHOTO: COURT OF APPEALS WEBSITE
MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the validity of search warrants issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) against the Kapa Community Ministry International Inc. (Kapa), a religious corporation linked to a so-called Ponzi investment scam.
In a two-page resolution dated Aug. 16, the appellate court’s 13th division denied the motion for reconsideration filed by officers and agents of Kapa seeking the reversal of its decision issued in March in relation to several search warrants against the group’s officials, led by its founder, Pastor Joel Apolinario.
Kapa argued that the Supreme Court did not authorize the Manila RTC to issue the search warrants outside of its jurisdiction. The appellate court, however, said Kapa’s motion was devoid of merit and did not raise new arguments.
“The motion for reconsideration is devoid of merit … as to the other arguments submitted by petitioner, the Court finds them exactly the same as the arguments and issues that have already been passed upon and settled in the decision dated March 27, 2023, being sought to be reconsidered,” the CA said.
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