DILG stands firm on reward money, arrest warrants vs. Quiboloy

The Department of the Interior and Local Government reiterated that cash rewards and warrants of arrest were necessary in holding Pastor Apollo Quiboloy accountable for the charges filed against him.

In a statement on Wednesday, the DILG said that this was in line with their advocacy to uphold justice for women and children.

“We in the DILG will never allow injustices to happen within our midst nor will we allow our children to become unknowing preys to sexual predators. Let the truth come out and justice be served,” it read.

The statement followed after a Senate investigation on the alleged use of excessive force in issuing arrest warrants against the pastor at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao on Tuesday, where Kingdom of Jesus Christ Executive Secretary Eleanor Cardona questioned the P10-million “bounty” offered for Quiboloy’s location.

"Legal ba ang pagpatong ng P10 million sa ulo... Kasi when you put a bounty of P10 million sa ulo ng isang tao na hindi convicted ng kahit anong korte dito sa ating bansa, 'yun nga mas masahol pa siya sa masahol na terorista at killer dito sa bansa. Pastor is Pastor Quiboloy hindi pa siya convicted," Cardona said at the continuation of the Senate inquiry into the alleged excessive use of force in the serving of warrants on Quiboloy and others.

(Is it legal to put a P10-million reward for someone's capture...? When you put a P10-million reward for someone who isn't convicted by any court, it's worse than being branded a terrorist or killer in the country. Pastor is Pastor Quiboloy, he's not convicted.)

Department of Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty, in the same hearing, confirmed that the reward offer was legal under Philippine law and clarified the difference between a bounty and reward.

"Let us make a distinction between the term bounty and the word reward. This is a reward, not a bounty. A bounty is for people who should be arrested because they are convicts of a crime or they have outstanding warrants of arrest. This reward covers many things, not just the arrest, but information on the whereabouts of the various accused (including) Pastor Quiboloy," Ty said.

"Sinabi namin na legal ang pag-alok ng pabuya or reward sa mga indibidwal na makakabigay ng impormasyon na makakatungo sa arrest ng isang tao. Bakit po ito legal? Unang una, kasama ito sa trabaho namin sa justice sector. Dapat namin ipatupad ang mga criminal laws natin at hindi ito maipapatupad kung ang mga akusado ay hindi matatagpuan. Bukod doon, maliwanag naman sa ating sistema na hindi bawal ang pabuya para mahanap ang isang akusado at madala sa husgado ang isang akusado," Ty added.

(Our position is that offering rewards to individuals who can give information leading a person's arrest is legal. Why is it legal? Firstly, it's part of our job in the justice sector to implement criminal laws which will not be enforced if the accused is missing. Moreover, our system clearly provides that it is not illegal to offer rewards to locate an accused, and bring him or her before the court.)

In the same hearing, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and Quiboloy’s lawyer, Israelito Torreon, also entered into a verbal spat after the latter claimed it was “unfair” and “improper” for Abalos to quote statements from alleged victims in verbatim.

““You will have your time Attorney Torreon! This is part of the transcript of the Senate… This is my speech, you cannot tell me what is improper! That is my right,” said Abalos. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News