Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez —Photo from the House of Representatives
MANILA, Philippines — Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez has reminded the lawyer of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy to refrain from being “entitled”, noting that the pastor was arrested after hiding inside his sect’s headquarters.
Fernandez in a statement urged Quiboloy’s counsel Ferdinand Topacio to be more “self-aware” of his remarks, after the lawyer admonished Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. for allegedly playing politics.
Topacio called Abalos an “epal,” a Filipino slang for an alleged attention seeker, after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that Quiboloy was arrested. According to Topacio, the KJC founder was not arrested but surrendered to authorities instead.
READ: Topacio to Abalos: Don’t be epal, Quiboloy surrendered not arrested
“Saan ka nakakita ng kaso na kung saan nahuli na ’yung suspect, entitled pa ’yung abogado niya na tawaging epal ’yong may kustodiya ng kliyente niya? (Where can you see a scenario where the suspect was arrested, but the lawyer is so entitled to call the one who has custody of his client as ‘epal’?)” Fernandez asked on Monday.
READ: Apollo Quiboloy has been arrested – DILG chief Abalos
“Pastor Quiboloy fell in the hands of authorities. He is facing charges of sexual abuse and human trafficking. He hid like a scared rat inside his compound. Those facts are beyond question,” he added.
Aside from claiming that Quiboloy was not arrested, Topacio also said that Abalos was credit-grabbing as the televangelist supposedly surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and not the local police.
READ: Quiboloy didn’t surrender, he surfaced because PNP closing in – Marcos
Topacio issued his statement after Abalos announced the arrest of Quiboloy on Sunday evening, at the KJC compound in Barangay Buhangin, Davao City.
However, no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that Quiboloy did not surrender—rather, the KJC founder surfaced when the Philippine National Police (PNP) operatives enforcing his arrest order moved closer to his hiding spot.
“I think that’s a legal question. Pero ganito ang iniisip ko eh, hindi siya lilitaw kung hindi namin hinabol ng husto (I think that’s a legal question. But this is what I’m thinking, he won’t appear if we didn’t chase him hard.),” Marcos said on Monday.
Fernandez said that both the DILG and the PNP did a good job of going after Quiboloy, noting that more problems could have risen if the law enforcement agencies were not careful in implementing the arrest order.
“Secretary Benhur Abalos and the police force deserve all the praise for Quiboloy’s capture. This was the best-case scenario because it did not descend into chaos,” Fernandez said.
“It would be in Quiboloy’s best interest if his brilliant lawyer is now thinking of his defense rather than another petty potshot at the authorities who have control,” he added.
More praise for PNP, AFP
Fernandez’ co-chairpersons in the House of Representatives’ quad-committee have also congratulated both the PNP and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) for the capture of Quiboloy.
Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop—a former police general—and Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante said Quiboloy’s arrest is a “major victory” in the fight against human trafficking and child abuse.
Quiboloy is accused of committing child abuse and trafficking, both in local and United States courts.
“Quiboloy’s alleged actions have victimized some of the most vulnerable members of society. It’s crucial he be held fully accountable for these crimes. We commend our law enforcement agencies for their vigilance and urge the courts to expedite the trial to deliver justice,” Acop said.
“Let this be clear: Apollo Quiboloy’s arrest is not just a win for law enforcement, it’s a resounding victory for justice and human dignity. The crimes he is accused of—child abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking—are monstrous, and no amount of power or influence can shield him from the full force of the law. The time for reckoning has come,” he added.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said that the cases against Quiboloy are not just about him, but also tackles a system of abuse that has affected several individuals.
Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano meanwhile said that Quiboloy must face these cases, as they are grave accusations.
“This isn’t just about holding Pastor Quiboloy accountable; it’s about sending a clear message that no one—regardless of power or self-proclaimed status—is above the law. This case must set a precedent that those who exploit and abuse the most vulnerable will face the harshest penalties,” Barbers said.
“We welcome this significant development in bringing to justice an individual who has evaded accountability for far too long. The charges Apollo Quiboloy is facing are grave—child abuse and human trafficking are heinous crimes that violate the dignity and rights of individuals, especially minors. We must ensure that no one, regardless of their influence or position, is above the law,” he added.
Fernandez heads the House committee on public order and safety, while Acop is the senior vice chairperson; Abante, the committee on human rights; Barbers, the committee on dangerous drugs; and Paduano, the committee on public accounts.
The four panels have launched an investigation on the possible correlation between illegal activities in Philippine offshore gaming operators hubs, the illicit drug trade, and alleged extrajudicial killings in the past administration’s drug war.