Gabriela asks DOJ to issue HDO vs Quiboloy

Evangelist Apollo Quiboloy of Kingdom of Jesus Christ. INQUIRER file photo / GRIG MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Women’s party-list Gabriela on Sunday asked the Department of Justice to issue a hold departure order (HDO) against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church after making it to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) most wanted list.

While an HDO is typically issued by the court, a hold order may also be issued by the DOJ to be able to monitor any attempt of a “wanted” individual to leave the country.

Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, in a statement, said DOJ must issue the HDO “while the extradition request (against Quiboloy) remains pending from the US government in connection with a slew of criminal charges slapped against the self-styled religious leader.

“We again ask the DOJ to do whatever is necessary to facilitate the attainment of justice to all the victims of Pastor Quiboloy — even if those measures would run counter to Duterte’s wishes,” Brosas appealed.

At the same time, Brosas asked the embattled TV evangelist to surrender himself to authorities and face the charge against him, rather than painting a picture of him as being maliciously persecuted.

“Pa-victim itong si Pastor Quiboloy. Eh siya itong maraming biniktimang kababaihan at menor de edad ayon sa indictment charges laban sa kanya. For someone who is accused of molesting minors and trafficking victims to the US, Quiboloy must really be thick-faced to liken himself to Biblical figures. Sumuko na lang dapat siya,” Brosas said in a statement.

(Pastor Quiboloy plays the victim. But he is the one who victimized women and minors, according to the indictment charges against him. He should just surrender.)

“Si Joseph, inapi kahit walang kasalanan. Si Pastor Quiboloy, nang-api at nang-abuso, wanted sex trafficker at sangkot sa napakaraming landgrabbing cases sa Mindanao. Napakalaki ng pagkakaiba,” continued Brosas, referring to Quiboloy’s remarks that he is the “modern-day Joseph.”

(Joseph was oppressed even though he had no sins. Pastor Quiboloy caused harm, abused, is a wanted sex trafficker, and is involved in several land-grabbing cases in Mindanao. There is a big difference.)

Quiboloy, in his TV program, fended off the latest controversy which involved the release of the FBI’s “wanted” poster of him, who was charged, along with several others, with “conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; bulk cash smuggling.”

Brosas said that it is a challenge to the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte not to coddle Quiboloy, who served as the chief executive’s spiritual adviser.

The influential religious leader also very recently endorsed the candidacy of Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for vice president, and her running mate, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who is running for president.

“Malaking hamon sa Duterte regime at maging sa Bongbong-Sara tandem na huwag kanlungin si Quiboloy, lalo’t inendorso niya ang tandem ng administrasyon kamakailan. They are complicit in coddling the wanted sex trafficker and in causing further injury to those victims who have come forward to expose Quiboloy’s crimes,” she said.

(It is a big challenge to the Duterte regime and even the Bongbong-Sara tandem to not coddle Quiboloy, especially that he endorsed the tandem recently.)

EDV