WE JOIN Senator Ronald dela Rosa in his bidding for Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to surrender to authorities so its members’ lives could “return to normal.”
Police have been searching for the 74-year-old Quiboloy since Aug. 24 to serve warrants, issued by the courts, for his arrest as well as those of his five co-accused on charges of sexual abuse and human trafficking.
First, Quiboloy went into hiding shortly after the Senate issued an arrest warrant against him for refusing to attend the chamber’s hearings.
At that time, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Quiboloy should use inquiries at the House of Representatives and the Senate to “say his side of the story” as both chambers issued subpoenas after he failed to attend hearings.
The Department of Justice then announced Qualified Human Trafficking charges, which are non-bailable, under Section 4 (a) of Republic Act 9208, as amended, pursuant to the Resolution were filed before a Pasig court against him filed before a Pasig City court.
Quiboloy was also charged under Section 5(b) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and under Section 10(a) of the same act before a Davao court.
Last April, a Davao court issued a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy, described by police as a fugitive from justice, and five others.
Authorities later served the warrant against him, but he was not found at the KOJC compound in Davao City. The warrant was handed to the administrator of the property.
The Philippine National Police said the service of the warrants was a “lawful operation” and carried out “in strict compliance with legal security protocols” of the PNP.
Quiboloy’s lawyer Israelito Torreon reiterated the other day Quiboloy’s condition for President Marcos to issue a written declaration Quiboloy would not be given to the United States.
Dela Rosa, who had earlier asked President Marcos to order the withdrawal of 2,000 cops deployed at the KOJC compound, said he does not see Quiboloy’s condition as a “demand” – qualifying that as his assumption only.
But we underline DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez’s statement that “no one in government can give that guarantee, strictly speaking.”
The fugitive televangelist is alleged to have engaged in sex trafficking by force, coercion, and sex trafficking of children in the United States although he has not been given the chance to face his accusers.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos also said private individuals wanted to help in apprehending Quiboloy and offered a P10 million reward for information that will lead to his arrest.
Last month, the Court of Appeals issued a freeze against Quiboloy’s 10 bank accounts, seven real properties, five motor vehicles, and one aircraft.
The order also included the bank accounts of KOJC and the Swara Sug Media Corporation.
Our eyes are on duty.
