PASTOR APOLLO QUIBOLOY / FEBRUARY 7, 2016 INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has urged Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy to show up and face the cases filed against him, noting that authorities are just following the law.
In an ambush interview on Wednesday, Marcos also asked why Quiboloy’s camp has been questioning the motives of people behind the P10-million reward for the pastor’s arrest when the government and its citizens are only looking to have laws implemented.
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said private individuals offered a P10-million reward for Quiboloy’s arrest due to outstanding human trafficking and child sexual abuse warrants.
“He can question their (private individuals) motives as much as they want but magpakita siya (but he has to show up),” Marcos said after the impounding process ceremony at the Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal.
“Let me question his motives. Why do they always question us? We only follow the law. He should follow the law also. That’s it,” he added in Filipino.
The President did not mention Quiboloy, but the KJC founder’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio on Tuesday said the reward is wrong on so many levels.
But Marcos said he does not see any problem with it.
“Bakit hindi (Why not)? They want to help us bring a fugitive to justice. You know, he is a fugitive. He is hiding from the law,” the chief executive said.
“Now, if there are private citizens who want to assist the government in that effort to bring him to justice, I do not see any [problem],” he added.
According to Abalos, another P1-million reward was raised each for those who could pinpoint the whereabouts of Quiboloy’s co-accused, namely Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada, Sylvia Cemañes, and Jackielyn Roy.
READ: P10-M reward offered for info on Quiboloy
Abalos, however, declined to name the donors, saying that the individuals were just frustrated with the lack of developments in Quiboloy’s cases.
Quiboloy is facing sexual abuse and trafficking charges. The cases were transferred from the regional trial courts of Davao and Pasig cities to the Quezon City court.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte, the televangelist’s long-time ally, said in a previous briefing that he knows where Quiboloy is hiding, but preferred to keep it secret.
READ: Is Duterte liable for ‘hiding’ info on Quiboloy’s location? PNP mulls