PNP studying if Duterte liable for keeping mum on Quiboloy's location

The Philippine National Police is studying whether or not former President Rodrigo Duterte is liable for obstruction of justice after he said in a news conference that he knew the whereabouts of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy but added that it was a secret.

According to Jonathan Andal's report on "24 Oras," spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said the PNP would need to talk to Duterte regarding his remarks.

“Obviously, ang isang tao na alam na ang kinaroroonan ng isang wanted person may be held liable for obstruction of justice. But, then again, papagaralan muna po ng mga abogado po ng PNP if those statement may constitute obstruction of justice or just a simple words taken out of context,” said PNP Spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo.

(Obviously, a person who knows the location of a wanted person may be held liable for obstruction of justice. But, then again, the PNP lawyers will still look into whether those statements may constitute obstruction of justice or just simple words taken out of context)

She also said that the PNP aims to get the full context of the statement from the former president.

“Yung simpleng video lamang po ay this will constitute hearsay lang. Kailangan natin makausap siya. Kung sino yung mga kausap niya during that time, ito ba ay sinabi niya parang just to tease yung mga kaharap niya or its just a joke lang po?” she added.

(A simple video will constitute only hearsay. We need to talk to him. Who was he talking to during that time, did he say this just to tease his audience or is it just a joke?)

PNP urged those who knew where Quiboloy was to cooperate.

The preacher is currently wanted for sexual abuse and human trafficking.

“Nire-remind po natin at paalala na maaaring may kaharapin po silang mga karampatang kaso po. Alalahanin po natin na mabigat po itong mga kasong kinakaharap po nitong mga akusado at sila po ay tinuturing na nating mga pugante,” Fajardo said.

(We are reminding and warning them that they may face the appropriate charges. Let us remember that the accused is facing heavy charges and are now being treated as fugitives)Former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea claimed that the former president was not joking when he made the remarks

He said Duterte was also a lawyer currently acting as the administrator of the KOJC properties, who may invoke attorney-client privilege or confidentiality.

Legal expert Attorney Rowena Daroy Morales said that Duterte had no legal liability to reveal Quiboloy’s location as he was not in court.

“Wala pong obligasyon para sa kanya na sabihin kung saan [napaparoon si Quiboloy]. Pwera na lang kung siya'y nautusan ng korte na sabihin. (He has no obligation to say where [Quiboloy is located]. Only except if he was ordered by the court) It's going to be a moral liability or a moral obligation. There is no legal obligation for him to say where Quiboloy is, but morally, because he is an ex-president,” said Morales.

In April, Duterte refused accusations that he was coddling Quiboloy and said that he did not want to be involved in his legal cases.

Despite this, he claimed that he told Quiboloy to hide as he would not be getting a “fair deal” under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"As a lawyer, I would say that you can go to court and fix your case and post bail bond. That could be an option. But if you do not think that you will get the fair deal with this administration, talking about Marcos and everything, eh di 'wag ka lumabas d'yan sa Tamayong (then don't leave Tamayong)," said Duterte, referring to Tamayong Prayer Garden, which was developed by Quiboloy.

"Nandyan lang 'yan sa Tamayong. Malaki lang ang Tamayong (He might be there in Tamayong, which is a big place)," he added.

Quiboloy is currently facing charges 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.

Quiboloy is also wanted by the Los Angeles Court for alleged conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; sex trafficking of children; marriage fraud; fraud and misuse of visas; bulk cash smuggling; promotional money laundering; concealment money laundering; and international promotional money laundering. 

His trial by the Los Angeles Court has been rescheduled to 2025. —NB, GMA Integrated News