BY now, any observer of official policies and procedures in going after suspected criminals, especially if they are so-called celebrities or high-profile personalities, can very well conclude that we have an emasculated government.
We have a long list of high-profile persons who have been accused of serious crimes and disappeared for some time, evading the long arm of the law, waiting for a change of administration or the reversal of political winds’ direction, before rejoining society. Some of them, of course, were either caught or opted to surrender, spent some time in jail or house/hospital arrest, then enjoyed a new lease in life following questionable judicial exoneration. After this low point in their careers, several of these personalities were either appointed to important offices in government or worse, elected again in positions of power.
We do not have to identify these officials and high-profile persons, but the list keeps adding names to it, the most recent being former congressman Arnulfo Teves and religious leader pastor Apollo Quiboloy. The two are trying to ward off common charges of alleged crimes they committed, such as murder and abuse of minors, by defying official authority.
‘When it comes to fighting criminality, there should be no VIPs.’
The first show of rejection of authority is fleeing to another country. In the case of Teves, he escaped abroad and ended up in East Timor where he sought asylum but failed. The police caught up with him in Dili and legal arrangements are being taken to extradite him to the Philippines.
In the case of Quiboloy, the Senate has long been asking him to attend a public hearing to answer charges of abuse and other crimes, mostly from followers in his religious congregation, Kingdom of Jesus Christ. He continued to evade the hearing, until the Senate issued an arrest order to force him to attend. This did not bother the pastor much, until the Regional Trial Court of Davao City issued warrants of arrest against him and five of his followers for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
Quiboloy is also wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation for child sex trafficking.
In 2021, the US Justice Department charged Quiboloy with sex trafficking of girls and women aged 12 to 25 to work as personal assistants, or “pastorals,” who were allegedly required to have sex with him. A federal warrant was issued for his arrest on Nov. 10, 2021.
The last time we heard about Quiboloy was from his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio who said his client was meditating at a “prayer mountain.”
Quiboloy recently outlined the conditions for his surrender, in a 30-minute recorded statement on the YouTube channel of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), which he reportedly owns. Quiboloy said he would not show his face unless the Marcos administration gave him a written guarantee that the US would not meddle in his cases in the Philippines.
His message was also addressed to the Philippine National Police, the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the National Bureau of Investigation under the Department of Justice.
The fugitive said he wants a guarantee “that the Americans will not interfere in his case in the Philippines and that their FBI, Central Intelligence Agency and the US embassy will not meddle.”
Both Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and President Marcos said Quiboloy is in no position to demand conditions or any kind of guarantee for his surrender, although the President said his safety and a fair trial are what the government can give him.
True, the fugitive t cannot impose any conditions. He must surrender, not according to his terms but according to the terms of the law. The law applies to all, without exception.
When it comes to fighting criminality, there should be no VIPs. The government should see to that.
