(PHILIPPINES)
ABS-CBN [Quezon City, Philippines]
April 8, 2024
By Adrian Ayalin, Sherrie Ann Torres, Joyce Balancio
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday assured Pastor Apollo Quiboloy that all proceedings in his child and sexual abuse cases would be “fair”, following the televangelist’s conditions for his surrender.
Quiboloy recently released an audio statement saying he was not in hiding and that he wanted protection from extradition as he also had pending cases in the United States.
Marcos dismissed Quiboloy’s demands as “tail-wagging” the government.
“Ang maipapangako ko all the proceedings will be fair. Now, as to the involvement of the United states, malayo pa yan eh. That’s going to take years. So I don’t think that it is something he should worry about,” Marcos said.
No Quiboloy extradition request yet after ‘unsealing’ of US arrest warrant: DOJ
Quiboloy, leader of religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ, had sought “written guarantees” from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the national police and National Bureau of Investigation stating that the “US government will not interfere” with his cases.
“If you fail to give in written form these conditions from the Office of the President, Office of the Secretary of Justice, PNP, NBI and CIDG, you will never see my face,” Quiboloy said.
The Department of Justice on Monday said Quiboloy should not set conditions on his surrender. It said the charges against the religious leader were not weak and there was direct evidence to prove all the elements of the offenses charged.
“Quiboloy cannot impose any conditions. He must surrender not according to his terms but according to the terms of the law. The law applies to all, without exception,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a statement.
The DOJ said it was still awaiting another arrest warrant from the Pasig City Regional Trial Court for the related human trafficking case against Quiboloy and his co-accused.
The Pasig trafficking case is non-bailable, while the Davao abuse cases are bailable.
“The DOJ is awaiting the issuance by the Pasig RTC of another warrant of arrest for qualified trafficking,” the DOJ said.
Remulla said Quiboloy should let court proceedings take their course if he believes he is innocent.
“Argue your charges before the Court where you remain the accused, tell the naked truth, that way you can redeem yourself,” Remulla said.
PNP urges Quiboloy to surrender, face charges
SENATE PROBE
Quiboloy had also insisted that the Senate investigation into the sexual abuse allegations should stop. He added that the allegations against him must be filed in court as the proper venue.
The televangelist accused Sen. Risa Hontiveros of using him for publicity purposes.
In a statement on Monday, Hontiveros told Quiboloy: “Pastor Quiboloy, lumabas ka na sa lungga mo. Tutal nagpapa interview ka na rin sa mga vlogger, aba, magpainterview ka na rin sa amin sa Senado.”
(Get out of your hideout Pastor Quiboloy. Anyway, you have been granting interviews to vloggers. You should also grant the Senate an interview)
“Kung totoong matapang ka, ulitin mo lahat ng sinabi mo tungkol sa Senado, dito sa Senado. Make your words of record. Record your shameless audacity in history… Hindi ka namin uurungan,” she added.
(If you are really brave, you will repeat what you have been saying about the Senate, here in the Senate… We will not back down.)
The Senate will continue its investigation even without Quiboloy’s presence, Hontiveros said.
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte said Quiboloy’s cases are now in the proper forum, after a Davao court issued a warrant of arrest over his child abuse case.
“Maganda iyong development na mayroon nang kaso na nasa tamang forum, at nasa tamang venue dahil ito’y nasa korte,” Duterte told reporters in Pasig City.
“Kung ano man ang desisyon ni Pastor Apollo Quiboloy na gagawin niya ay personal na niya sa desisyon iyon,” she added.
(It’s a good development, since the case is now pending before the proper forum, the right venue, which is the court. Whatever Pator Apollo Quiboloy’s decision is a personal choice.)