DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 March) — Police authorities in the Davao region claim they are still clueless on the whereabouts of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.
The Senate had earlier ordered the arrest of Quiboloy for his continued refusal to attend its investigation of alleged human trafficking and child abuse.
Police major Catheine Dela Rey, Police Regional Office-Davao spokesperson, told reporters at the sidelines of Kapihan sa Philippine Information Agency on Friday that they do not have any information whether Quiboloy is still in Davao.
Quiboloy, Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder and self-appointed “Son of God,” admitted in a videotaped statement last month that he has been in hiding amid threats to his life.
“We cannot confirm if Pastor is still in Davao because we also do not know where he is now,” she said.
She said the Senate’s Sergeant-At-Arms has yet to coordinate with police authorities here to arrest Quiboloy, bring him to the Senate, and secure his presence during the investigations of Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.
She said the police are ready to assist the Sergeant-At-Arms to serve the arrest order on Quiboloy.
She added that the security forces are implementing the same “regular police operations” in Davao but added that they are “monitoring” the KOJC Compound in Catitipan and Tamayong Prayer Mountain in Calinan for any protest action from its members.
Dela Rey added that the police will do its job in arresting Quiboloy regardless of his closeness to the Duterte family, particularly former President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte.
“The police of Davao Region will always abide by our mandate as law enforcers whoever it is. Hindi kami tumitingin sa estado ng tao ano ba yun pangalan nya (We do not look at the status of the person whoever he is). We regard everybody equally, and we will uphold the law as law enforcers,” she said.
Once arrested, she said Quiboloy will be flown to Manila immediately and will be placed under the custody of Senate.
The arrest order against Quiboloy was released after Senate President Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri approved the ruling of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality to cite him in contempt for his non-appearance in senate investigations scheduled last January 23, February 19, and March 5 despite being served with subpoenas.
Senator Risa Hontieros chairs the committee that is investigating in aid of legislation into the “reported violation of human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence, and child abuse” against the spiritual leader.
In the United States, Quiboloy has been on the wanted list of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation since February 2022 amid numerous indictments 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 after a federal warrant was issued in November 2021 against him.
In December 2022, the US Department of the Treasury included Quiboloy in the list of over 40 individuals from different countries whose assets have been blocked after being linked to corruption and human rights abuse.
It said Quiboloy is designated pursuant to E.O. 13818 “for being a foreign person who is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse.”
It said that all property and interests in property of the designated persons that “are in the US or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control), including those assets that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more.”
Early this month, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla reversed the resolution of the Office of the City Prosecutor of Davao that dismissed the complaints for rape, qualified human trafficking, and child abuse.
“Upon reevaluation, it has been determined that there exists probable cause against Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy for the crime of sexual abuse of a minor, under Section 5(b) of the Republic Act No. 7610, as well as against Quiboloy and co- respondents for qualified human trafficking and other acts of child abuse,” a press release issued by Department of Justice said.
It said that “complainant-appellant’s allegations, which date back to 2011, highlight a series of abuses, including an act of rape in September 2014 when she was a minor, emotional and physical mistreatment, and forced labor without compensation, all under the guise of religious service at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name (KJC).”
“Despite the dismissal of her initial complaints and a subsequent denial of her Motion for Reconsideration, the complainant’s persistent legal battle has brought new light to the gravity of her accusations,” it said. (Antonio Colina IV / MindaNews)
