Senator-elect Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said that he’s willing to help the members of KAPA Community Ministry International.

On his Facebook post, Dela Rosa said that he already talked to President Rodrigo Duterte personally to relayed the stories of some members having concerns because of the money that they previously invested to the religious group founded by Pastor Joel Apolinario.

Bato expressed his willingness to talk to Pastor Apolinario so he could send the message of President to him and fix the things about KAPA.

Several weeks ago, KAPA issue became the headline of several media networks after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the closure of the said religious group.

“Sa mga miembro sa Kapa nga nangayo ug tabang nga ipaabot nako kang Pres Duterte ang inyong kaguol ako na syang nastorya,” Bato said.

(To all members of KAPA, don’t worry I already talked to President Duterte about your stories, and that I’m also saddened by what happened to some of you).

“Tabangi ko ninyo nga makastorya si Pastor Apolinario para maipaabot nako sa iyaha ang gusto ni PRRD. Tabangi ko ninyo nga matabangan ta mo,” he added.

(Please help me so I can talk to Pastor Apolinario, so I can relay the message of President Duterte to him. You help me, I’ll help you)

Apolinario is not yet responding to Bato’s request as of writing.

KAPA was questioned because of offering 30% investment rates to its members “donations.”

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also ordered to freeze P100-M assets owned by Apolinario.

Meanwhile, several members of KAPA organized a prayer rally to convince President Duterte to allow their religious group to cooperate.

KAPA members also claimed that they made Imee Marcos, Christopher Bong Go, and Dela Rosa won the senatorial elections, boasting that they got 5-M members.

KAPA Community Ministry International founder Pastor Joel Apolinario admitted in a radio interview that it’s almost impossible for him to return the money of the people who donated or invested to his religious group.

In an interview with DZBB, Apolinario blamed that the order of the Court of Appeals (COA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to freeze his assets worth P100-M and several luxury vehicles.

However, if the claims of SEC are valid, KAPA already has gotten P50-B from its members.

But where is the remaining 49.9-B? That is what the SEC is looking.

Apolinario also added that all of his businesses already stopped operating because of the court order even his fishpond.

“Kung hindi kami pagbigyan nang pagkakataon na makapag-operate muli ‘yong aming ministry talagang sasabihin na namin na parang suntok sa buwan na ‘yon dahil hindi ko na makukuha rin yong mga naibigay ko sa mga tao,” Apolinario said.

He also insisted that what they’re doing is legal.

Meanwhile, the government encouraged the people to file a complaint against Apolinario so they can recover the money they invested in the religious group.

However, several loyalists of Apolinario said that they’re going to push the government to return KAPA and even planning to support their pastor in the 2022 presidential elections.

Senator-elect Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa finally spoke about the issue regarding KAPA Community Ministry International, showing concern on the situation of the members who lost their money.

In an interview, Dela Rosa expressed his sadness over the victims of KAPA, wishing that there’s still a chance for them to recover the hard-earned money that they donated or invested to the religious group founded by a former construction worker and now Pastor Joel Apolinario.

He also said that only President Duterte could decide on the fate of KAPA.

“Naluoy ko sa mga miyembro nga wala mabalik ang kwarta pero kung muingon ug pakialaman nako ang decisyon sa Presidente (President Rodrigo Duterte) that’s purely executive in nature (I really feel for the members who cannot get back their money but if I would ask the President, that decision is purely executive in nature),” Dela Rosa said.

“So hulaton lang nato kung unsay sunod niyang lakang kung duna pa siyay pagahimuon (Maybe we will wait for the President’s next move),” he added.

However, he would not waste any opportunity to ask Apolinario about the fate of KAPA members’ investment if there’s a chance for them to meet each other in the future.

Some members of KAPA even sold their lands and other sources of income like Carabaos just to donate in the religious group after Apolinario promised to give their members a 30% monthly interest rate.

Bato wished that Apolinario can still return the money to his members even without any interest included.

“Hopefully if given the chance I would ask what he (Apolinario) can say about any chance of returning the money of the members,” he said.

The former head of PNP who’s now an upcoming Senator denied in the past interviews that he received any money from KAPA during the campaign.

KAPA assets were frozen following the order of the Court of Appeals.

President Duterte also ordered to close down KAPA.

It seems that President Rodrigo Duterte is enjoying the company of Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha after they on the sidelines of the 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at The Athenee Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand on June 23, 2019.

Duterte who’s known for being strict and serious in many photos has been spotted being joyful while having a photo session with the Thai PM.

Duterte and Chan-o-cha during the bilateral meeting talked on how the Philippines and Thailand could improve their ties.

The President also received a gift from his new friend and it was presented to the Filipino leader after the successful talks between them.

The stamps included in the frame are national stamps commemorating the 70th anniversary of PH-Thai relations which started on June 14, 1949.

Meanwhile, the supporters of the President on social media are glad to see that the chief executive is enjoying the meeting with the Thai PM.

 “Happy to see you HAVING BIG LAUGH, MR. PRESIDENT!!!” Ma. Priscilla Aguilar said.

“Nakakaiyak na nakakatuwa, nakakaiyak kasi sa likof ng mga ngiti ni PRRD ay buhat buhat nya ang libo libong problema ng ating bansa kasama ang mga bumabatikos sa kanya at mga di makuntento sa mga nagawa nya. Masaya kasi di nya tayo iniwan. Sana ikaw na lang presidente ng pinas habang buhay Tay!” A-Van Closa remarked

Aside from Chan-o-cha, Duterte also met the leaders of Thai companies and urged them to invest in the Philippines.

He ensured the Thai businessmen that there would be no corruption happening in the Philippines under his term.

An alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy made a Facebook post to explain who’s more Chinese than President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to Dan Jimenez, former Presidents Cory and Benigno Aquino are more “Chinese” than the current chief executive.

He pointed out that the ancestors of Cory came from mainland China.

“Cory Aquino traced her roots in mainland China and even went to the village where her Chinese side of the family came from. She adopted the “yellow” color as her banner and rallying trademark!” Jimenez said.

Jimenez also mentioned Noynoy, saying that the former President let the Chinese mine lands in Zambales to gather materials for their artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea.

He also said that Noynoy failed to be transparent in resolving the WPS issue during his time.

“Noynoy Aquino let the Chinese flattened two mountains in Zambales to be used to build up the disputed islands. Then, instead of transparent diplomatic negotiations, he used Trillanes to do a backdoor negotiation, the terms of which remain unknown to this day. It was after that the Chinese imposed their control.” Jimenez said.

“And how much money did Noynoy’s administration borrow from the Chinese? At least with Duterte’s loans, the results are very visible. Where did Noynoy’s loans go?” he added.

In his term as President, Duterte was accused of being Pro-China because of choosing to negotiate with the Chinese to resolve the West Philippine Sea issue than invoking the victory of the country over an arbitration case.

Until today, the opposition also criticized the President for being friendly to China.

President Rodrigo Duterte got fed up with the incompetence of the two airline company based in the Philippines and made a warning to them.

During his speech at the 121st Philippine Navy Anniversary celebration, Duterte warned Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific to give a better service to the Filipinos or else their business may disappear in the future.

According to him, PAL and CebuPac should fulfill their obligations of providing comfortable travel to their customers, especially to the Filipino air travelers.

“Kawawa talaga ang riding public,” Duterte said.

“Merong isang eroplanong nag-landing and they stayed for five hours inside the plane — incoming. So merong tumawag late ng two hours, mag-book sila ng hotel,” he added.

He also lectured PAL and CebuPac, saying that they should give their passengers convenience because that is the reason why their businesses exist.

“I told PAL and the rest of the carriers — the very essence of a common carrier, whether it is a jeep, a bus, an airplane, a ship — ang common ano diyan is for public interest and public governance, and convenience,” he said.

“If you cannot provide convenience and comfort, you ought not to be there at all,” he added.

President Duterte also believed that the congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is the reason why passengers are experiencing inconvenience and delays.

To solve the issue, he suggested making Sangley point to become an alternative airport for passengers.

“I used to fly when I was young. So kilala ko ‘yang mga piloto sa Civil Aviation, almost all of them. Noong una pa tinitingnan ko talaga ‘yung clogging. I mentioned it in passing itong Sangley. But it was lost in the maze of governmental…Sabi ko, ‘Why don’t you look at the direction of Sangley? Maski na lang sa mga cargo, to ease up a bit ‘yung (congestion),” he said.

After the President suggested to make Sangley point as an alternative landing, Department of Transportation (DOTr) ordered a 24/7 construction of the airport in Cavite.