Quiboloy camp surrendered 5 firearms, says PNP

The camp of Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy has surrendered to the police five firearms registered to the controversial religious leader.

Citing Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, Super Radyo dzBB's Mark Makalalad reported that the firearms were surrendered to Police Regional Office 11 (PRO-11) on Wednesday morning.

"[The firearms were] surrendered to our regional security unit ng PRO-11, Davao po," Marbil told reporters.

Quiboloy's camp has reportedly promised to surrender more firearms in the coming days.

PNP records show that there are 14 more firearms registered to Quiboloy, who is the subject of manhunt operations by the police following the issuance of arrest warrants against him.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who believes that Quiboloy's camp has more than 19 guns in their possession, thanked the authorities for the latest development but said that it is just a "small start."

"Twenty-five percent lang po 'yun ng 19. At mukhang base lang sa social media photos ng private army ni Quiboloy, kahit yung 19 ay isang maliit na bahagi lamang nung lahat na kanilang mayroon nasa kamay," Hontiveros, who earlier called on the PNP to revoke Quiboloy's gun permits, said in a press conference.

(That's just 25% of the 19. Based on their social media photos of Quiboloy's private army, the 19 firearms is just a small part of how much they have in their possession.)

She recalled the testimony of one of the resource persons who appeared at a Senate inquiry into the alleged abuses of Quiboloy where it was alleged that former President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, had received "bags of guns" from the religious leader.

"Salamat sa update...pero 'yung lima ay isang maliit na simula lamang sa lahat nang dapat makumpiska ng PNP," she said.

(Thank you for the update, but it's only a small start in everything that should be confiscated by the PNP.)

Hontiveros also slammed the supposed "double standards" on Quiboloy's case as the PNP gave his camp six months to surrender the firearms.

"Tuloy-tuloy ang double standard kay Quiboloy, di ba? Ang pag-surrender ng mga kanselado ng dating lisensyadong mga firearms, de-registered na mga firearms, dapat kaagad yun," she said.

(The double standard for Quiboloy continues. surrendering firearms should be done immediately after their license is revoked.)

The PNP in late April revoked the gun permit of Quiboloy in light of the charges he is facing in the Philippines and even in the United States. 

The PNP's Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) earlier recommended the revocation of Quiboloy's guns, citing Section 4 (g) of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Under the Standards and Requisites for Issuance of and Obtaining a License to Own and Possess Firearms of the Law, “The applicant has not been convicted or is currently an accused in a pending criminal case before any court of law for a crime that is punishable with a penalty of more than two years.”

Legal disability for gun ownership also includes “pendency of a criminal case with imposable penalty of two years.”

The Senate has issued an arrest order against Quiboloy for "unduly refusing to appear, despite due notices" at hearings on his alleged involvement in the sexual abuse of KOJC members and human trafficking issues.

A Davao court also issued a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy and five others over charges of child abuse.

Four of the co-accused turned themselves in, while another, Cresente Canada, was arrested by National Bureau of Investigation agents. All five have posted bail, while Quiboloy remains at large.

An arrest warrant was also issued by a Pasig court for Quiboloy for human trafficking charges. —KBK/ VAL, GMA Integrated News