10 Million Peso Reward Offered for Information on Quiboloy

By: Frances Mangosing – 2 hours ago

MANILA, Philippines — A reward of 10 million pesos is being offered for information leading to the capture of televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who has eluded authorities for more than three months since warrants were issued for his arrest on charges of human trafficking and child sexual abuse.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos announced Monday that another reward of P1 million will be offered to anyone with information on the whereabouts of Quiboloy’s subordinates in his Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) sect and his co-accused Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada, Sylvia Cemañes and Jackielyn Roy.

READ: Quiboloy Hunt Continues: ‘No Special Treatment’

“I would like to announce that we have friends who would like to help stop them,” the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief said at a press conference.

But Abalos declined to name the donors, saying they chose to remain anonymous and were “frustrated by what is happening” in Quiboloy’s files.

The self-proclaimed “son of God” has eluded Philippine National Police arrest teams since local courts ordered his arrest in April.

From Davao to QC

Quiboloy was charged with sexual abuse and trafficking in regional courts in Davao and Pasig, but in May the Supreme Court granted the Justice Department’s request to move the venue of a series of cases from Davao to Quezon City.

The Supreme Court “found compelling reasons to justify the transfer of the venue of the trial, as the cases involve public interest, the accused, a well-known religious leader, being influential in the region.”

Quiboloy was charged with violations of Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. He and his subordinates are charged with human trafficking, which are non-bailable.

At the press conference, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said the police are exploring the possibility of filing a case against former President Rodrigo Duterte for obstruction of justice.

On June 30, Duterte told reporters in Tacloban City that he was aware of the pastor’s whereabouts “but it was a secret.”

The PNP chief noted that under Presidential Decree No. 1829, a person can be criminally liable for “harboring or concealing, or facilitating the escape of any person whom he knows, or has reasonable grounds to believe or suspect, has committed an offense against the penal laws in force in order to prevent his apprehension, prosecution and conviction.”

Quiboloy is the former president’s spiritual adviser and a close friend of Duterte’s family.

Attempts to locate Quiboloy were unsuccessful.

On June 10, more than 100 members of the Davao Regional Police, Special Action Force and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group stormed the KOJC compound in Davao City but left empty-handed.

Three people were injured and five others arrested for “carrying bolos” during the raid. The KOJC denounced the authorities’ “unnecessary and uncontrolled force,” while Duterte called the measure “excessive.” —with a report from Inquirer Research