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HEADLINES
FMJ to Quiboloy in China: Come out
By Nidz Godino
"I just heard," legal counsel Israelito Torreon said Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) head Apollo Quiboloy may already be in China, even as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.asked preacher to surface and follow law instead of questioning motive of people offering reward for his arrest.
Quiboloy and five others, who are facing child sexual abuse and human trafficking cases before courts in Davao City and Pasig City, have remained at large despite efforts by authorities to arrest them in botched operations in four of kingdom's key properties last June 10.
Torreon said Quiboloy fled to China is making rounds, but he could not confirm this.
Failure of authorities to arrest Quiboloy led Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos to announce P10-million bounty for anyone who can provide information on his whereabouts.
Quiboloy's camp has questioned move, saying reward is "discriminatory" and "surprisingly disproportionate" and places life of Quiboloy at risk.
Speaking to reporters in Rizal, Marcos does not see any issue if private citizens offer reward for Quiboloy's arrest.
"Why not…they want to help us bring fugitive to justice…you know, he is fugitive…he is hiding from law, now, if there are private citizens who want to assist government in that effort to bring him to justice, I do not see any issue," the President said.
Marcos challenged Quiboloy to come out of hiding and maintained government is just following the law. "He can question their motives as much as they want but magpakita siya, I question his motives…let me question his motives…why are we always questioned…we are just following the law…he should also follow the law," the Chief Executive said.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte earlier told reporters, perhaps in jest, in Tacloban City that he was in constant communication with his former spiritual adviser and that he knew where the pastor is hiding.
Elements of Special Action Force and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group last June 10 raided KOJC main headquarters along Diversion Road as well as Prayer Mountain , Glory Mountain in Barangay Tamayong, Davao City and Sands Resort in Island Garden City of Samal, but failed to arrest Quiboloy.
China has consular office in Davao City, and whoever facilitated securing Quiboloy's visa may have also done so for his co-accused, observers said.
Quiboloy could also have escaped from Davao City by any means as he has fleet of helicopters, jet planes and even speed boats.
Meanwhile, Torreon said P10-million reward being offered by Abalos violates Republic Act 6713 after the interior secretary said bounty for immediate arrest of Quiboloy came from donations.
"P10-million reward may constitute violation of RA 6713 because if you will read Section 7, paragraph D states public officials or employees shall not solicit or accept directly or indirectly any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by or any transaction which may be affected by functions of their office," KOJC legal counsel said at a press conference.
Abalos announced P10-million reward for information that would lead to Quiboloy's arrest and P1 million each for information on his five co-accused.
"This RA 6713 is applicable to Secretary Abalos…you may be motivated in good faith in whatever you are doing but that is violation of law because any donation or any prize is governed by particular law," Torreon said.
Torreon stressed that aside from RA 6713, Memorandum Circular No. 2019-063 provides monetary rewards can only be offered to most wanted persons.
"Can alleged crime committed by Quiboloy be considered as heinous…it is even bailable…all heinous crimes are not bailable," he said.
He said monetary rewards are also offered in sensational cases.
"A sensational crime…. refers to cases where crime committed is directed against government officials appointed by the president, judges, prosecutors, members of Philippine Bar, media practitioners, militant party-list, labor leaders, foreign nationals… crime of Quiboloy is not sensational crime," he said.
Quiboloy is subject of arrest warrants issued by Davao City and Pasig City regional trial courts, where he is facing charges of qualified trafficking and sexual abuse allegedly committed against 17-year-old girl in 2011.
Case in Davao City has been allowed by Supreme Court to be transferred to Quezon City court.
Immigration lookout bulletin order has been issued against Quiboloy to prevent him from fleeing the country.
Quiboloy, self-proclaimed "appointed son of God," is currently considered fugitive as authorities try to locate him due to standing arrest warrants.
One of the endorsers of Marcos during 2022 presidential race, Quiboloy is on Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)'s most wanted list for allegedly orchestrating sex trafficking operation.
According to FBI, Quiboloy is wanted for his alleged involvement in labor trafficking scheme that brought members of his church to US through fraudulently obtained visas. Federal warrant was issued for the religious leader's arrest on Nov. 10, 2021.
Last February, Quiboloy revealed through audio clip he is in hiding because he is facing threats to his life. He also claimed that Marcos had forged deal with American authorities to hand him over to US government.
Marcos laughed off claim, saying cases filed against Quiboloy in US were filed before he became president.
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