DOJ: Lookout bulletin for Quiboloy, no hold departure order

Apollo Quiboloy

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said it can now issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against alleged sex offender Apollo Quiboloy, but stressed that it cannot prevent him form leaving the country. 

DOJ Senior State Counsel Mary Grace Quintana disclosed the matter during the Senate’s hearing on Quiboloy’s alleged sexual abuse and forced labor among Kingdom of Jesus Christ members.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who was presiding over the hearing as panel chair of the chamber’s committee on women, prodded the DOJ if it can now issue an ILBO against Quiboloy now that the Senate has already issued a subpoena against the religious leader. 

“Since it’s now an ongoing investigation, the DOJ can now issue an ILBO,” said Quintana.

Quintana, however, clarified that the issuance of ILBO is “not meant to prevent” Quiboloy from leaving the country. 

“Kung matatandaan niyo po dati kasi meron kaming department order na in-issue para sa mga watchlist at saka hold departure order, but this was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. So ito pong ILBO is just a way of monitoring the subject of the order but not to prevent the subject from leaving the country,” Quintana explained.

(If you can recall, we used to have a department order issued for watchlist and hold departure order, but this was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Hence, the ILBO is just a way of monitoring the subject of the order but not preventing the subject from leaving the country.)

“So in case dumaan sila sa immigration counter they just take note of yung itinerary niya where the subject will travel but apart from that it will not prevent the subject from leaving the country,” she explained. 

(So in case they present themselves at immigration counters, immigration officers will just take note of the itinerary, where the subject will travel, but apart from that it will not prevent the subject from leaving the country.)

No records showing Quiboloy left PH

In the same hearing, Bureau of Immigration legal division chief Arvin Santos belied claims that Quiboloy has fled the country and is now in China. 

“Based on our records po, as of to date, ang last pa po na flight ni Apollo Quiboloy po ay dumating po siya noong July 22,2023. So based on our records, nandito po siya,” said Santos. 

(Based on our records, Apollo Quiboloy’s last flight was when he arrived in the Philippines on July 22, 2023. So based on our records, he is here.)

“Wala po sa records namin ‘yun,” added Santos when he was asked by Hontiveros to comment on reports that Quiboloy fled the country.

(That’s not in our records)

Hontiveros likewise stressed that Quiboloy needs to appear at the the Senate hearing.