Malacañang on Monday said the law must take its course amid ongoing efforts to arrest fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy in his Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City.
“The law must take its course,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in an interview.
“He (Quiboloy) is answerable to the law, and the law must take its course. There is a process in place,” he added.
Quiboloy and five other KOJC members are facing charges of child abuse and human trafficking.
Courts in Davao City and Pasig City have ordered their arrest, and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation also issued an arrest warrant against Quiboloy and his colleagues for sex trafficking and coercion of minors charges.
On Saturday, around 2,000 cops trooped to the KOJC in a bid to arrest the pastor, but they have yet to apprehend Quiboloy until now in the almost 30-hectare compound that includes a cathedral, a school, a living area, a hangar and a taxiway leading to Davao International Airport.
For his part, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil urged the political friends of Quiboloy to advise him to surrender and face the accusations hurled against him through the proper legal channels.
Marbil said as a nation, all are bound by the rule of law and all must uphold these principles without exception.
“This matter transcends legal obligations; it serves as a testament to the principle that no one is above the law,” he said.
“Quiboloy’s political backers and benefactors understand well that obstruction of justice and harboring a fugitive or being complicit in such actions are serious offenses. Their support must underscore the necessity for clarity and responsibility in this situation.”
“The law applies equally to all, and any attempt to evade justice undermines the very foundation of our society. I encourage KOJC members to act by their faith and to refrain from allowing themselves to be used in ways that contravene the rule of law,” Marbil added.
However, Quiboloy’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, said he cannot force his client to surrender.
“We can only give our clients the best advice. It will depend on our client. He is probably apprehensive,” he said.
Davao Mayor Sebastian Duterte, for his part, said the local government respects the implementation of any warrant of arrest in accordance with existing laws.
“But we also observe that the PNP, led by Gen. Marbil and Gen. (Nicolas) Torre, are no longer following the legal process in implementing the arrest warrant, especially in the use of force against innocent people in their unauthorized occupation of the KOJC compound,” the mayor said.
“We also recognize the right of KOJC members to protest. But we appeal to them to do this in a peaceful manner and to avoid activities that would hamper traffic and for the security of everyone,” he added.
Mayor Duterte said he could not do anything to intervene because “the police will only listen to the PNP chief and to their commander-in-chief, President Bongbong Marcos.”
House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin, on the other hand, called out Vice President Sara Duterte for questioning the police operation at the KOJC.
Garin said the Vice President appeared to be defending a powerful figure accused of heinous crimes, rather than seeking justice for the victims.
“While Vice President Duterte expresses concern over the police’s implementation of lawful warrants, I find it troubling that her sympathies appear to lie more with a powerful figure wanted for serious crimes rather than with the vulnerable women and minors who have suffered at the hands of an accused predator,” she said.
“These are not trivial matters to be dismissed or overshadowed by political spin. The real issue here is justice for the victims—innocent individuals whose lives have been irrevocably harmed…Instead of addressing these serious concerns, Vice President Duterte’s statement seems to shift the narrative away from the need for justice and accountability,” Garin added.
Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno said it was also ironic for former President Rodrigo Duterte to complain about the “abusive and violent” enforcement of the arrest warrant against Quiboloy.
“It is ironic that Rodrigo Duterte is insisting that the government respect human rights when, as President, he spearheaded the attack against our basic rights… The police must follow the rules for enforcing arrest warrants and the KOJC members must respect lawful authority,” he told Manila Standard.
Lawmakers on Monday rallied in full support of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Davao City Chapter, which urged Quiboloy and his co-accused to surrender peacefully and submit to the rule of law.
“This is not just about following the law; it’s about showing respect for our justice system and ensuring that due process is carried out fairly. I urge Pastor Quiboloy to heed this call and demonstrate his respect for the rule of law by submitting to the judicial process,” Rep. Rodge Gutierrez of 1-Rider party-list said.
Assistant Majority Leader Jil Bongalon added: “The rule of law is the foundation of our democracy, and no one is above it. The IBP’s statement is a clear reminder that justice must prevail, regardless of who is involved.”
He added: “I fully support the IBP Davao’s call for a peaceful surrender by Pastor Quiboloy and his co-accused. Let us all abide by the legal processes that safeguard the rights of every citizen and uphold the integrity of our courts.”
“It is imperative that all individuals, regardless of their position, comply with the law and allow our judicial system to function as it should,” Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said.
For its part, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines reminded the PNP and the KOJC that media workers on the ground are not a party to the proceedings.
NUJP also condemned the verbal harassment and threat of physical harm by KOJC followers against reporters covering the ongoing operation.
Mobile journalist Marymon Reyes was reportedly harassed by KOJC members, who forced her to leave the premises, repeatedly shouting “lumayas ka (get away from here),” as seen on a video uploaded by One News.
