Quiboloy still in PH, says Abalos

Fugitive televangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), is still in the Philippines, according to Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos on Friday.

"There is always a lot of possibility na maaring kung saang parte sila ng mundo, pero sa aming nakikita sa ngayon, nandiyan lang 'yan. Nandito lang 'yan sa Pilipinas," Abalos said at a press briefing in Camp Crame

(There is always the possibility that they are already in other parts of the world. But from what we see so far, they are just here. They are just here in the Philippines.)

"We will assure you this. Lumiliit na ang Pilipinas para sa kanila. Ganyan gumalaw ang pulis, ang military. Saan ka na magtatago niyan? Ang taumbayan pa," he added.

(We will assure you this. The Philippines is getting smaller for them. With how the police operate, the military, and the people. Where are you going to hide?)

Abalos called on Quiboloy to face the charges against him, which include child and sexual abuse and human trafficking, in court. 

“Pastor, alam ko naman na [I know that] you have your reasons. Sinasabi mo [you said] you're innocent. Just surrender. I-present mo ito sa court of law. This is the time to present your evidence and your lawyers,” he said.

“We have procedures in court. At kung sakali naman, merong appeal ito. Ito ay ginawa ng ating mambabatas to make sure na talagang tama ang proseso ng hustisya sa ating bansa at lahat dapat ay sumunod dito,” he added.

(We have procedures in court. And if something happened, you can appeal. This was done by our legislators to make sure that the justice process in the country is really proper and everyone should follow it.)

A reward worth P10 million is being offered for any information that will lead to the arrest of Quiboloy. Aside from Quiboloy, P1 million each is also offered for his five co-accused.

One of his co-accused, Paulene Canada, was arrested in a Davao City subdivision on Thursday following the announcement of the bounty.

Quiboloy's legal counsel Atty. Ferdinand Topacio has questioned the motives of private individuals who offered the bounty.

In response to this, Abalos pointed out that Topacio in 2018 also offered a reward for information that will lead to the arrest of some individuals.

Instead of questioning the reward, Abalos called on Topacio as well as former presidential spokespersons Harry Roque and Salvador Panelo, to advise Quiboloy to surrender.

Both Roque and Panelo served under former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is a close friend of Quiboloy's.

Arrest warrants were issued against Quiboloy and others for alleged violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and Republic Act No. 9208 or Qualified Human Trafficking.

Quiboloy went into hiding shortly after the Senate issued an arrest order against him for refusing to attend the chamber's hearings.

The police raided several properties owned by KOJC in Davao City, Samal Island, and Sarangani to serve the arrest warrants to the controversial televangelist but to no avail.

Quiboloy has also been indicted by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.

In 2022, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation also issued “wanted” posters for Quiboloy and two other members of his KOJC, namely Teresita Tolibas Dandan and Helen Panilag.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News