IS there a failure of police intelligence in the search for and arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy?
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women and Children, raised this yesterday as she chided the PNP for its failure to pinpoint the whereabouts of the fugitive religious leader and serve the warrants of arrest issued by two regional trial courts.
“Hind pa rin siya ma-secure at hindi pa rin siya ma-aresto. Kaya’t nananawagan ako kay bagong PNP chief (Rommel) Marbil na mag-step up naman ang PNP kasi baka may failure of intelligence na, na hindi pa di umano matukoy ang whereabouts ni Quiboloy para siya ay maaresto (Quiboloy has not yet been secured and arrested. That’s why I am calling on new PNP chief Marbil to step-up manhunt operations because there might be a failure of intelligence that they cannot pinpoint the whereabouts of Quiboloy that’s why he has not been arrested),” Hontiveros said in an interview with dzBB radio.
A Davao City Regional Trial Court has issued an arrest warrant against Quiboloy for charges of sexual abuse, while a Pasig City RTC ordered his arrest for qualified human trafficking charges
The Senate and the House of Representatives have also issued arrest warrants for Quiboloy for his failure to attend congressional hearings despite several invitations and subpoenas issued.
The Hontiveros committee is conducting an investigation, in aid of legislation, into allegations that Quiboloy sexually and physically abused his former church members.
On the other hand, the House held hearings in relation to a proposal to cancel the legislative franchise granted to the SMNI Network, which is owned by Quiboloy, for alleged franchise violations and for spreading “fake” news. The House plenary has voted to revoke the franchise granted to SMNI before Congress went on its summer break last month.
Amid speculations that the KOJC founder is being protected by his private army where he is hiding, Hontiveros has asked the PNP to cancel the licenses to own and possess firearms issued to Quiboloy.
“Mayroong private army si Quiboloy, armado ito, at nagpo post sila sa social media na handang halos magpakamatay at handa silang gamitin ang kanilang armas, handing mandahas para lang protektakahan si Quiboloy. Banta siya sa peace and order ng ating bansa (Quiboloy has a private army, they are armed, and they are even posting on social media that they are ready to die for him, ready to use their firearms, to be violent just to protect Quiboloy. He is a threat to the country’s peace and order),” she said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Robin Padilla has filed Senate Resolution No. 1000 urging the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, which he chairs, to conduct an investigation on the alleged “baseless suspension orders on SMNI” to determine if it constitutes a denial of due process and press freedom.
Padilla said that the right of the people to public information “should not be unduly curtailed” since access to information on matters of public concern and of “general interest” can help people in democratic decision-making “by giving them a better perspective of vital issues confronting our society.”
He said the National Telecommunications Commission, which suspended SMNI’s operations since end 2023 and issued an indefinite suspension against the network last January, failed to indicate why it needed to do so, “much more express how this is necessary to avoid serious and irreparable damage or inconvenience to the public or to private interests.”
