Duterte to protect Quiboloy ‘Kingdom’ assets — lawyer
(LEFT) Apollo Quiboloy and Rodrigo Duterte. PHOTO FROM MALACANANG/INQUIRER FILES
“He shall see to it that assets are protected, payables are paid, receivables collected and all financial matters are handled with due diligence with the end in view of benefiting the members of KOJC (Kingdom of Jesus Christ) in the best possible manner.”
This was how a lawyer of televangelist Apollo Quiboloy described in a nutshell the role to be played by former President Rodrigo Duterte as “administrator” of KOJC, the sect headed by the wealthy, influential and now embattled pastor.
“And as a former President of the Republic, he brings gravitas and an extremely high level of prestige to the duties inherent in an administrator,” said lawyer Ferdinand Topacio in a message to the Inquirer.
As a “seasoned lawyer,” Duterte has the “best legal expertise” to handle all the concerns of KOJC, according to Topacio, legal counsel of the Davao-based church.
Duterte, 78, will be tasked to perform duties related to the “management, stewardship and preservation of the properties of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ as a juridical entity existing under Philippines laws,” he added.
‘Needs permission’
There was no reply when Topacio was further asked about the reason and timing behind Duterte’s designation as “new administrator of KOJC properties,’’ as announced by the sect in a one-sentence post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Friday.
The announcement came in the wake of new developments in the criminal cases faced by Quiboloy in the United States and amid the mounting pressure from lawmakers for him to appear before House and Senate inquiries.
According to Marlon Rosete, president of Sonshine Media Network International. (SMNI), the broadcast media arm of KOJC, Duterte is now “the Kingdom administrator of all properties of the Kingdom [of Jesus Christ].”
Warrants unsealed
“Even just touching the gates, or picking leaves and flowers, needs permission from him,” Rosete added in a text message. There was also no reply when he was asked to expound in view of Quiboloy’s cases.
The televangelist has been indicted by a federal grand jury in California for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling. Warrants for his arrest were issued in November 2021.
In an order issued on March 1, Central District of California Judge Terry Hatter Jr. ordered the warrants unsealed, which means the details of the charges or the reasons for the warrants were being made available to the public.
READ: Justice must be served for women victim-survivors of Quiboloy — Hontiveros
On March 4, the Department of Justice in the Philippines ordered the filing of sexual abuse and qualified human trafficking cases against Quiboloy, as it granted the petition for review filed by the complainant, a former KOJC follower who claimed he had raped her. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he also signed an immigration lookout bulletin against Quiboloy—promoted by the sect as the “Appointed Son of God.”
With the filing of charges, prosecutors would be able to secure a hold departure order to prevent him from leaving the country, Remulla added.
Snubbed hearings
On March 5, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who heads the Senate committee looking into allegations that Quiboloy had sexually abused female followers, cited him in contempt for continuing to ignore the summons to appear before the panel and asked for an arrest warrant to be issued.
At the House, Quiboloy has also snubbed hearings on SMNI’s alleged violations of its broadcasting franchise, including airing content that included Duterte’s threats directed at a lawmaker and spreading disinformation. —WITH A REPORT FROM JACOB LAZARO
