Quiboloy camp surrenders 5 of 19 firearms

PNP Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — A representative of Apollo Quiboloy on Wednesday surrendered five of the 19 firearms registered in the fugitive preacher’s name, according to Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.

Marbil told reporters in Camp Crame that the firearms were turned over to the Davao regional police by Marlon Acobo, the designated executive pastor of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) sect.

Acobo surrendered a Colt rifle, two Beretta pistols, and two Metrillo pistols when policemen served the order revoking Quiboloy’s firearms licenses at the Sasa district campus of Jose Maria College, a school founded by the KOJC leader.

READ: Hontiveros asks PNP to check the right number of Quiboloy’s guns: Is it 19?

Acobo, however, told the police that 14 other firearms registered under Quiboloy’s name had already been sold and handed over several documents as proof.

Marbil approved on April 26 the recommendation of the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office to revoke all the firearms licensed to Quiboloy because of the criminal charges he is facing in Pasig City and Davao City.

According to Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, among the requisites for the issuance of a firearms license is that “the applicant has not been convicted or is currently an accused in a pending criminal case before any court of law for a crime that is punishable with a penalty of more than two years.”

Delay in arrest hit

Quiboloy has been accused of sexual and child abuse charges in Davao City, while a non-bailable, qualified human trafficking case was lodged against him in Pasig City.

But Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chair of a Senate committee that also issued a warrant for his arrest for contempt, again urged the PNP to arrest the preacher over his criminal cases.

“Is he also the ‘God the Holy Spirit’ who is invisible?” Hontiveros said in a statement, mocking Quiboloy’s claim that he is the “appointed son of God.”

“The PNP should act before the United States requests for (Quiboloy’s) extradition for him to face six serious cases before a court in California,” she added.