PNP: Manhunt for Quiboloy continues
THE manhunt for fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy on Monday continued as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil instructed his men to ensure that the ‘rule of law’ is followed when they finally take the accused under custody.
“PNP chief, Gen. Marbil has instructed the Police Regional Office 11 to make sure that they will adhere to existing protocols particularly when it comes to arresting an individual,” said PNP spokesperson, Colonel Jean S. Fajardo.
The official said there is already a verbal coordination between the PRO11 and the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms in serving the arrest order on Quiboloy who has been cited for contempt for repeatedly defying orders for him to appear before a Senate investigation.
Officers from the PRO11 and the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group as well as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are involved in the manhunt which is now not limited to Davao City.
She also called on Quiboloy to surrender and face the charges against him as he maintained that the warrant of arrest issued by the court is part of its judicial authority that should be respected.
“It also gives the accused the opportunity to present evidence and witnesses to defend himself,” she said.
Col. Fajardo also categorically denied claims by Quiboloy that there is a plan by the Philippine and United States governments to harm him.
“We want to assure the pastor and his supporters and lawyers that we will protect him should he decide to surrender and submit himself to the jurisdiction of the court,” she said.
Col. Fajardo also said that anybody who will be found harboring a wanted person just like Quiboloy would find himself having trouble with the law as he/she will be charged for obstruction of justice for harboring a wanted individual.
The official said the PRO11 headed by Brigadier Gen. Alden B. Delvo is also not providing Quiboloy any ‘special treatment’ amid speculations its officers who are closely associated with former President Rodrigo R. Duterte won’t dare touch the pastor who is known to be a close friend of the Dutertes.
“There’s no special treatment. After the PRO11 received the warrant of arrest, they did not waste time serving it in places known to be being frequented by Quiboloy There’s no special treatment and we don’t intend to give special treatment to anyone,” she said.
Col. Fajardo added that the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office is currently determining if there is sufficient ground to revoke the License to Own and Possess Firearms and Firearm Registration of Quiboloy.
The pastor is a registered owner of 19 guns and only one of them has an expired license as of press time. She said that the PNP-FEO is looking to determine if the criminal charges for child abuse filed against Quiboloy are sufficient enough to cancel his gun permits.
Last week, five co-accused of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder in a child and sexual abuse case surrendered to local authorities and quickly posted bail.
The accused were ordered arrested by the Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 12 for violation of Section 10(a), or other acts of child abuse under Republic Act (RA) 7610, or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.”
Quiboloy was also ordered arrested for violation of Section 5(b) or sexual abuse also under RA 7610. The court set the bail at P180,000 for sexual assault and P80,000 for maltreatment.
