DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 09 July) – Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has vowed a “fair judicial process” for fugitive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy even if he announced a P10 million reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of the controversial fugitive preacher.
“Simple lang, ang batas ay batas. Kung may kasalanan, mananagot at yan ang gagawin namin (It’s just simple. A law is a law. If you have done something wrong, you will answer for it, and that’s what we will do),” he said.
Abalos urged Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and self-appointed “son of God,” to voluntarily submit himself to the court if he is really innocent and face the accusations against him.
Quiboloy continues to evade arrest despite being hounded by three warrants of arrest: from the Senate on March 19, a court in Davao City on April 1 and a court in Pasig on April 11 for various crimes, including alleged human trafficking, child abuse, and sexual abuse.
In a press conference on Monday, Abalos said that “well-meaning individuals” offered the P10 million bounty leading to the arrest of Quiboloy and P1 million each for his five co-accused namely Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada, and Sylvia Cemañes.
He said these suspects are fugitives with outstanding warrants of arrest from the courts.
Last May 28, the Supreme Court’s Second Division ordered the transfer of two criminal cases from the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12 in Davao to the RTC in Quezon City.
The SC Second Division also directed judges in Davao City and in other stations in Mindanao “where future related cases involving Quiboloy and his co-accused may be filed to motu proprio order the transmittal of the records to the Office of the Clerk of Court of the RTC, Quezon City and Metropolitan Trial Court, Quezon City, as the case may be.”
“As this could cause local biases and a strong possibility that witnesses cannot freely testify due to fear and influence of the accused, the Court found it prudent and judicious to order the transfer of the cases to Quezon City,” the SC Second Division said in a statement.
Abalos said the cases against Quiboloy are “no joke,” noting these are unbailable.
He said the “well-meaning individuals” offered the reward money because they wanted Quiboloy put under the jurisdiction of authorities.
Abalos did not name these “well-meaning individuals.”
National Police chief Maj. Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil warned individuals who are coddling the suspects that they may be charged with “obstruction of justice” under Presidential Decree 1829.
The decree punishes any individuals who are “harboring or concealing, or facilitating the escape of, any person he knows, or has reasonable ground to believe or suspect, has committed any offense under existing penal laws, in order to prevent the arrest, prosecution, and conviction.” (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
