Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos uploads this photo on his Facebook account showing lawyer Israelito Torreon (middle) and the fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy (extreme right), who was arrested the night of September 8. —Screengrab from the Facebook post of Benhur Abalone
MANILA, Philippines — The legal counsel of detained Pastor Apollo Quiboloy reminded the Philippine National Police (PNP) not to engage in what they deem as “malicious publicity” after its fresh allegations against the embattled televangelist.
Atty. Israelito Torreon, Quiboloy’s counsel, made the response on Wednesday in view of the PNP’s revelation regarding the testimonies of Quiboloy’s personal assistants known as “pastorals.”
“Character assasination of suspects of crimes is not part of their defined duties and responsibilities, hence, our camp cannot do anything except appeal to the better sensibilities of the police to treat these alleged “new” discoveries against Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy with fairness and professionalism, that is, do their job without much malicious publicity,” Torreon said in a statement.
PNP chief General Rommel Marbil said “pastorals” as young as 12 years old allegedly experienced sexual abuse in the hands of Quiboloy.
Some of these victims approached the authorities while the police operation inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) compound in Davao City was still ongoing, according to PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo.
Torreon, however, refused to comment on the PNP statement, saying the agency “has not yet even given clear details” on such allegations.
Quiboloy and four of his subordinates, Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente Canada, and Sylvia Cemanes, were arrested last Sept. 8 in KJC compound. They have been detained in the PNP custodial center since then. One of the suspects, Paulene Canada, was the first to be arrested in July.
Quiboloy and the five co-accused face child abuse cases before the Davao City and Pasig City court.
“I still believe that the PNP is composed of professional men and women and many within their ranks, if given the choice, would not supposedly allow an ongoing investigation to be enmeshed with too much publicity,” Torreon said.