Apollo Quiboloy
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police should immediately cancel the gun licenses issued to fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy after members of his alleged “private army” warned that any attempt to arrest him would be met with violence, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Monday.
“Along with his private army, [Quiboloy] is a threat to peace and order in the country,” Hontiveros said in a statement
“Quiboloy is armed and dangerous. His armed soldiers are ready to die for him. The PNP should confiscate [their] firearms at once,” she said.
READ: Quiboloy not ‘armed and dangerous’ even with 19 guns – PNP
READ: Ex-president Duterte denies receiving bag of guns from Quiboloy
The senator noted that several members of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) had posted threatening messages on social media, warning that they were ready to lay down their lives to protect their leader.
In one of the Facebook posts, a certain Alexandro Bullos wrote, “Blood will be shed before you arrest [Quiboloy].”
“We’re just silent, but we will stand up and fight to death for justice and defend the right of our beloved Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy,” said a certain Jayson Rubrico in another post.
Worrying photos, videos
Photos and videos showing male KOJC members wearing camouflage uniforms and holding assault rifles while undergoing military training had also circulated online.
Quiboloy, a close friend of former President Rodrigo Duterte, had been ordered arrested by a Davao City court for allegedly sexually molesting an underage KOJC member.
Last week, a Pasig City court also issued a warrant for the arrest of the self-proclaimed “appointed son of God” for qualified human trafficking, a nonbailable offense.
READ: Cops, Senate staff search Quiboloy properties in Davao
Quiboloy, who had likewise been indicted for similar criminal offenses in the United States, was also the subject of an arrest warrant issued by a Senate panel headed by Hontiveros.
According to Hontiveros, the PNP should investigate the social media posts instead of casually disregarding the possible hostile reaction of Quiboloy’s loyal followers to his looming arrest.
Last week, the PNP said the televangelist, who owns at least 19 firearms, was not considered “armed and dangerous” since he had not been involved in previous violent incidents.
“The PNP should do better,” Hontiveros said. “Social media users know that he has a private army. But why are they turning a blind eye? Quiboloy is already a fugitive so the PNP should not think twice in recalling his gun permits.”
She urged newly installed PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil to “step up” as she warned that “there could be a failure of intelligence” if Quiboloy remained free after two separate courts had ordered his arrest.
For his part, Sen. Robinhood Padilla appealed to Quiboloy to turn himself in since the courts had already acted on the cases against him and issued warrants for his arrest.
Padilla, one of Quiboloy’s defenders in the Senate, also called on the KOJC members to control their temper and respect the authorities and judicial processes.
“It would be better if he shows up,” Padilla said in a press briefing. “Let’s pray for peace and for violence to be avoided if Quiboloy surrenders or gets arrested.”