Palace mum on Quiboloy’s link to confiscated dollars

Malacañang has nothing to say about the predicament of Apollo Quiboloy, the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), after his Hawaii representative was indicted for trying to smuggle out of Hawaii hundreds of thousands of dollars aboard a private jet last February.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said a comment from the Palace was not forthcoming on the controversy involving Quiboloy, a friend of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Pastor Quiboloy is a private citizen. He can fend for himself,” Roque said at a press briefing in Davao Occidental.

A Honululu-based newspaper reported that a federal grand jury had indicted Felina Salinas with bulk cash smuggling for failing to report that she was carrying $335,000 in US currency and $9,000 in Australian dollars in February.

The money belonged to Quiboloy, the Star-Advertiser said, citing the indictment.

The newspaper also reported that Salinas was also indicted for helping Quiboloy avoid arrest and prosecution.

Arrested on Feb. 13

Quiboloy’s lawyer, Israelito Torreon, did not respond to the Inquirer’s request for comment on Sunday.

Salinas was arrested by US Customs and Border Protection officers at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Feb. 13 for failing to report all amounts of cash over $10,000 in her possession.

Salinas declared that she was carrying only $40,000 in US currency and the equivalent of $20 in Philippine peso but was found to have a much bigger amount in her bag, according to investigators from the US Department of Homeland Security.

KJC said in February that Quiboloy did not violate any US law and was never imprisoned.

State records identified Salinas as the Hawaii agent of KJC who registered the religious sect in December 2013 as a foreign nonprofit organization. —CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO