DILG insists on reward, manhunt vs Quiboloy

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) continued to offer a cash reward and conduct operations to apprehend the fugitive leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), Reverend Apollo Quiboloy.

In a statement on Wednesday, August 21, the DILG reiterated its commitment to pursuing justice for women and children.

“The DILG is committed to upholding justice and protecting the rights of women and children, and ensuring that the vulnerable are defended and that justice is served,” the report said.

“We at the DILG will never allow injustice to happen in our midst, nor will we allow our children to become unwitting preys of sexual predators. Let the truth come out and let justice be done,” it added.

The DILG noted that the enforcement of arrest warrants and the offer of a P10 million reward by the private sector are necessary to compel the accused, Reverend Apollo Quiboloy, to face the serious charges of sexual abuse and exploitation of minors.

There are arrest warrants for Quiboloy on charges of human trafficking and child and sexual abuse, related to complaints filed by former members of the religious group.

His co-defendants, identified as Crisente, Paulene and Ingrid Canada, Sylvia Cemañes and Jackielyn Roy, have been offered a reward of 1 million pesos for their arrest.

Paulene was arrested in July at her residence in Davao City.

Police visited five properties belonging to Quiboloy, including the KOJC compound in Barangay Buhangin, Davao City, the Prayer Mountain in Tamayong, the Glory Mountain in Purok 6, the QSands Baptismal Resort in Samal and the Kitbog Compound in Malungon, Sarangani, but they were unable to locate and arrest him.

The KOJC said the PNP’s procedure in arresting the fugitive pastor was unlawful and unconstitutional.

Doubts were also raised about the reward offered by the private sector for the arrest of Quiboloy and his co-defendants.

The Ministry of Justice previously stated that it sees no harm in offering a reward for Quiboloy’s arrest.

“It is possible that you will be legally rewarded or that you will be individually rewarded if you are impormasyon after making an arrest. Bakit po ito legally? There is a chance that this will become the legal sector,” DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty said during a Senate hearing on Tuesday, August 20.

(We have argued that offering a reward to individuals who provide information leading to the arrest of an individual is legal. Why is it legal? First, it is part of our work in the justice sector.)

“It may be that the penal laws in the Hindi or Maipapatupad area are based on the Hindi matatagpuan. Bukod doon, Maliwanag naman sa ating system on hindi bawal and pabuya para mahanap an isang akusado at madala sa husgado an isang akusado,” he added.

(We must enforce our criminal laws, and we cannot do so if the accused cannot be found. Furthermore, our system clearly states that offering a reward to find an accused and bring him to justice is not prohibited.)

Ty said laws such as the National Internal Revenue Code, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and the Anti-Terrorism Act also support the ability to offer rewards for information on a person with an outstanding arrest warrant.

In a separate interview on Thursday, August 22, Interior Minister Benhur Abalos Jr. said there are strong indications that Abalos is still in the country. He assured that the manhunt is still ongoing.

“Ginagawa po namin lahat, makikita ninyo naman na ang mga pulis ay talagang may order po yan na tingnan sa bawat sulok sa buong Pilipinas po,” Abalos said.

(We are doing everything we can; you see that the police are indeed ordered to search every corner of the Philippines.) (TPM/SunStar Philippines)