Waiting game

ORGANICO Agribusiness Ventures Corp. has assured its investors that they will get their money back. So, too, has Kapa-Community Ministry International Inc. Although in Kapa’s case, the “investors” are donors.

There have been no complaints against Kapa. At least, not yet. Things might have changed, though, after the National Bureau of Investigation 7 and police raided its office in Barangay Poblacion, Compostela, Cebu on Monday, June 10, 2019.

As for Organico, it voluntarily shut down its branch on A.C. Cortes St. in Mandaue City also last Monday.

The sign outside the door indicated that it was “closed for renovation.”

An Organico investor who hides behind the name “Santi” said their personal “dashboard” in the company’s website had been deactivated following the controversy.

To those who don’t know, the dashboard “served as a personal account detailing the amount of money an investor had invested and the subsequent return he would get over a period of time.”

With no access to their dashboard, Organico investors have no access to their money.

But that doesn’t seem to worry Santi.

He said co-investors and Organico management

told him they would not renege on their contract to pay all those who had sunk their money into the company the promised returns.

Another investor who doesn’t want to be named said Organico’s chief executive officer had assured them the company would not turn its back on them. Wait 10 days, they were told.

The company was still trying to settle its problem with the Securities and Exchange Commission, they were told.

Kapa members were also told to wait 10 days.

Kapa founder Pastor Joel Apolinario, through the group’s regular radio program earlier Tuesday morning, June 11, said the ministry was not closing and would resume operations after that period.

Apparently, the court order to seize and close the group would expire after that.

And so it has become a waiting game for Organico and Kapa members. An excruciatingly painful one, I’d assume.

Those who have money to burn can perhaps sleep soundly at night. If things don’t work out, they can always charge the whole thing to “experience.”

But for those who took out loans, or borrowed or cajoled partners into parting with their nest egg, catching a wink or two may even be too much to ask.

I, for one, would like to see a happy ending on this matter. After all, the prospect of easy and sure money is too much to pass up. It’s unfair to blame people for giving in to their nature.

But please, spare me the sob story if things don’t turn out well in the end.;