FEO-PNP recommends revoking Quiboloy's firearms license

The Firearms and Explosives Office of the Philippine National Police (FEO-PNP) has recommended the revocation of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF).

According to a Super Radyo report by dzBB’s Mark Makalalad, FEO-PIO Chief Major Lady Lou Gondales said they are leaving the approval of their recommendation to PNP Chief Police General Rommel Marbil.

JUST IN: Firearms and Explosives Office ng PNP, inirekomenda ang revocation of license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF) ni Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. | via @MMakalalad pic.twitter.com/MS05TaifnD

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) April 23, 2024

GMA Integrated news has sought more details from the PNP regarding the matter but it has yet to reply. We will update the story as more details become available.

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to “stop making excuses” and revoke the gun permits of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

“Sa dami at bigat ng pending cases ni Quiboloy, siguro naman pwede nang bawiin ang mga armas niya. Sa kasong human trafficking pa lang, non-bailable at lifetime imprisonment na ang parusa, kaya ano pa hinihintay ng PNP? Nakapagtataka ang bagal,” she said.

(With the number and gravity of Quiboloy's pending cases, perhaps his weapons can be taken away from him. In the case of human trafficking, the punishment is non-bailable and merits life imprisonment, so what is the PNP waiting for? It makes you wonder why they are so slow.)

Citing PNP’s Implementing Rules and Regulations, Hontiveros pointed out that “pendency of a criminal case with imposable penalty of more than two years” is included as legal disability for gun owners.

According to PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo, Quiboloy has 19 firearms and the license to one of them already expired in March.

Despite having firearms, Fajardo said the PNP cannot consider Quiboloy as “armed and dangerous” because he has no records of being violent or employing a private armed group in the past.

The Senate 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 his 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 NBI agents.

All five have posted bail, while Quiboloy remains at large.

A Pasig court has also issued an arrest warrant against Quiboloy for human trafficking charges.

The Senate held a hearing on the alleged human trafficking and sexual abuse of some members of Quiboloy’s KOJC, while a House hearing is tackling issues against the franchise renewal of Quiboloy’s Sonshine Media Network Inc. (SMNI).

In the United States, Central District of California Judge Terry Hatter Jr. on March 7 ordered the unsealing of the arrest warrants against Quiboloy and his co-accused.—Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News