President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. welcomed the offer of a PHP10 million bounty for anyone who could provide information leading to the capture of fugitive religious leader Apollo Quiboloy.
Speaking to reporters at the Upper Wawa Dam impounding ceremony on Wednesday, he dismissed concerns over the reward, emphasizing that it is meant to facilitate justice.
“Why not? They want to help us catch a criminal. You know, he’s on the run from the law,” Mr. Marcos said.
Quiboloy has been in hiding since arrest warrants were issued against him for sexual abuse and human trafficking.
Quiboloy’s camp has questioned the government’s acceptance of the reward offer.
“Now, if there are private citizens who want to help the government in that effort to bring him to justice… he can question their motives as much as he wants. But let him show up,” the President said in response to Quiboloy’s camp.
“I question his motives. Let me question his motives. Why are we always being questioned? We’re just following the law. He should also follow the law. That’s it,” he added.
Earlier this week, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief Benhur Abalos announced the PHP10M bounty on Quiboloy’s head.
“I would like to inform you that we will offer reward money on any individual who can give us information on the whereabouts of wanted Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada, Jackielyn Roy amd Sylvia Cemañes – the fugitives who are facing cases of child abuse and exploitation and qualified trafficking without bail,” Abalos said.
