Marcos to Quiboloy: All proceedings will be fair

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed that the proceedings against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy would be fair, adding that the latter should not worry about the United States meddling in his cases.

''Ang maipapangako ko, all the proceedings will be fair. Now, as to the involvement of the United States, malayo pa 'yan, eh. That's going to take years. So I don't think that's something he needs to worry about, quite frankly,'' Marcos said in an ambush interview in Bacolod City.

(What I can promise is that all the proceedings will be fair. Now, as to the involvement of the United States, that's still far away.)

Marcos saw Quiboloy setting conditions for his surrender as "a bit of tail wagging the dog."

''It seems to me a little bit of tail wagging the dog ang tawag. Na siya magbibigay ng kondisyon sa gobyerno doon sa kaso na akusado siya, sa warrant of arrest. We will exercise all the compassion to Pastor Quiboloy,'' he said.

(It seems to me that there's a little bit of tail wagging the dog when he gave conditions for the government regarding the case where he is accused, wherein he has a warrant of arrest.)

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said Quiboloy could not impose any conditions on his surrender as the former urged the latter to face the charges filed against him.

Remulla issued the statement after Quiboloy said that he was ready to face his cases provided that the Marcos administration give him written assurance that the United States would not interfere in his legal battle in the Philippines.

“Quiboloy cannot impose any conditions. He must surrender not according to his terms but according to the terms of the law. The law applies to all, without exception,” Remulla said.

“The charges against Quiboloy are not ‘simple.’ They involve serious and morally abhorrent offenses such as  sexual assault of a minor and human trafficking,” he added.

GMA News Online sought comment from Quiboloy’s camp but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

‘Good developments’

Vice President Sara Duterte, meanwhile, said she is seeing good developments with regard to Quiboloy’s case, adding that whatever he will do from now on will already be his personal decision.

“Maganda ‘yung development na meron nang kaso na nasa tamang forum, nasa tamang venue… Ngayon, kung ano man ang desisyon ni Pastor Quiboloy na gagawin niya ay personal na niyang desisyon ‘yun. I’m sure pinag-isipan niya ‘yun,” she said in an ambush interview on Monday.

(There’s a good development because his case has been brought up in the right forum and in the right venue... Now, whatever decision Pastor Quiboloy makes is his personal decision. I'm sure he had thought about that.)

Sara and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, are known allies of the religious leader.

However, asked if she is willing to provide legal assistance to Quiboloy, the Vice President said, “Unang una, hindi na ako nagtatrabaho as a lawyer.”

(I’m no longer a practicing lawyer.)

Last month, Sara stood by Quiboloy, saying that he deserves to be given a fair trial in the right court. She also believed that what Quiboloy was facing was violence and unfairness as he seemed to have been given a guilty verdict already based on claims of unknown witnesses.

'Face Senate'

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday urged Quiboloy to face the Senate and repeat his "disrespectful" remarks before the lawmakers.

Hontiveros made the statement amid Quiboloy's latest audio statement posted on Facebook, calling on the senator to put a stop to ''bogus hearings'' in the Senate and accusing her of bribing witnesses to testify against him.

"Pastor Quiboloy, lumabas ka na sa lungga mo. Tutal nagpapa-interview ka na rin sa mga vlogger, aba, magp-ainterview ka na rin sa amin sa Senado," Hontiveros said.

(Pastor Quiboloy, get out of your cave. Since you've been entertaining interviews with vloggers, then you should face our questions here in the Senate.)

"Kung totoong matapang ka, ulitin mo lahat ng sinabi mo tungkol sa Senado, dito sa Senado. Make your words of record. Record your shameless audacity in history. Patunayan mong ganyan pa rin kabastos ang mga salita mo kapag kaharap mo na kaming mga Senador. Hindi ka namin uurungan," she added.

(If you are really that brave, repeat all your disrespectful remarks about the Senate, here at the Senate. Make your words of record. Record your shameless audacity in history. Prove your accusations before the senators. We will not back down.)

The chairperson of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality said Quiboloy has no right to besmirch the reputation of the Senate.

"Hindi naman naitago ng mga audio file na 'yan ang takot mo matapos umalingasaw ang katotohanan... Wala kang katiting na ebidensya laban sa aming mga matatapang na witnesses. At wala kang karapatang siraan ang institusyon ng Senado at ang mandato nito," said Hontiveros.

"Tuloy ang hearing ng Committee on Women kahit wala ka."

(Audio files did not hide your fear after the truth came out. You have no single evidence against our brave witnesses and you have no right to besmirch the Senate as an institution and its mandate.)

The Senate has issued an arrest order against Quiboloy for "unduly refusing to appear, despite due notices" at the hearings of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which investigates his alleged involvement in sexual abuses of his members and human trafficking cases.

Charges

Quiboloy is facing charges under Section 5(b) and Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act before a Davao court.

Prosecutors said the bail was set at P180,000 for sexual assault and P80,000 for maltreatment.

He is also facing qualified human trafficking charges under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended before a Pasig court.

According to the Department of Justice, there is no legal impediment for Quiboloy’s arrest after the Davao court issued a warrant of arrest against him.

The agency said the case against Quiboloy was “never a weak one” and that there is direct evidence to prove the charges against him.

Remulla, meanwhile, urged Quiboloy to stand trial if he believes he is innocent. He also assured Quiboloy of his safety.

The DOJ said it is waiting for a Pasig court to issue a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy over the qualified trafficking charge. —AOL/KG, GMA Integrated News