Publiko pinagiingat sa mga ‘investment scheme’

MULING NAGBABALA ang mga otoridad sa publiko na mag-ingat sa mga tao o kumpanyang nag-aalok ng investment scheme kapalit ang malaking interest o tubo na tulad sa Ponzi scheme. Kamakailan lamang ay nilusob ng pulisya ang opisina ng Spatial Distribution Trading and Construction Corporation sa Salcedo Subdivision sa Barangay Sudapin sa Kidapawan City matapos na makatanggap umano ng mga reklamo mula sa mga investors. Sa bisa ng isang warrant, hinalughog ng Police Regional Intelligence Division at ng Kidapawan City police office ang naturang tanggapan na matagal na umanong minamanmanan dahil sa mga reklamo laban sa kumpanya.

Sinabi naman ni Kidapawan City police chief, Lt. Col. Rammel Hojilla, na hindi pa nila matukoy sa ngayon kung sino ang nasa likod ng

nasabing investment scheme dahil ito ay isang korporasyon at marami ang nasa likod ng pagpapatakbo nito.

Lumalabas din sa imbestigasyon na ang Spatial Distribution Trading and

Construction Corporation ay dati umanong Kabus-padatuon Community Ministry International, Inc. (KAPA).

Nitong taon lamang ay binawi ng Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ang registration ng KAPA dahil sa “serious misrepresentation on what it can do or is doing to the prejudice and damage of the public.”

Ito ay base na rin sa desisyon ng SEC En Banc sa petisyon ng SEC Enforcement and Investor

Protection Department na bawain ang certificate of incorporation nito “for offering and selling securities, in the form of investment contracts and in the guise of donations, without the necessary license and in a manner resembling a Ponzi scheme.”

Sinabi ng SEC na: “KAPA, in dealing with the public, is using its registration with the Commission as a religious corporation as a backdrop to solicit investments from the public knowing that it does not have the requisite registration. Such act is indicative of Kapa’s intent to deceive the public on what it can do or is doing to the damage and prejudice of the investing public.”

“In its certificate of incorporation, KAPA is explicitly prohibited from undertaking business activities requiring a secondary license such as acting as broker or dealer in securities, investment house and close-end or openend investment company.

Despite its lack of authority to offer and sell securities, KAPA recruited and encouraged members to donate any amount in exchange for a 30% monthly return for life, without having to do anything other than invest and wait for the payout.”

Kasama sa order ng SEC ang lahat ng mga partners, officers, directors, agents, representatives at mga iba pang may kinalaman sa KAPA na siyang nasa likod ng KAPA Kabus Padatuon (Enrich the Poor), KAPA/KAPPA (Kabus Padutoon), KAPA-CO Convenience Store and General Merchandise, and KAPA Worldwide Ministry. (Rhoderick Beñez)