Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has revealed that complaints were filed against him and ranking officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the June 10 raid of Apollo Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City.
The raid was conducted as government authorities secured warrants for the arrest of Quiboloy, who along with several of his subordinates has been charged with human trafficking and child and sexual abuse.
At the House Committee on Appropriations hearing on the proposed 2025 DILG budget, Rep. Raoul Manuel of party-list Kabataan commented on the PNP’s manhunt for Quiboloy.
“Authorities seemed to have a hard time arresting prominent personalities, but easily arrest ordinary people, who even became victims of red-tagging that continues today.” Manuel claimed.
Abalos retorted, defending the efforts of the DILG and PNP in looking for the fugitive televangelist.
“We are not like that, as far as Quiboloy is concerned and the others, we are doing everything we can. In fact, we are sued on record, the PNP and I are facing cases due to the raid at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound, and we are going to answer their accusations against us,” Abalos said without expounding on the matter.
Documents from Abalos showed that “full-time miracle workers” of the KOJC filed the complaints against him and PNP officials for violating Articles 128 (domicile), 132 (interruption of religious worship), 133 (offending of religious feelings), and Article 282 (grave threats) of the Revised Penal Code before the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office last month.
