The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday released uncensored mugshots of televangelist Apollo Quiboloy and his fellow co-accused after the public criticized that they cannot be identified in the photos released the day before.
“No one’s above the law,” said DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos in a Facebook post, as he shared the latest versions of the mugshots.
Many were puzzled as to why the Philippine National Police (PNP) released on Monday blurred mugshots of the religious leader and other arrested individuals.
But the PNP explained that it was in compliance with the guidelines from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
“‘Yun po ang polisiya ng PNP bilang pagsunod na rin sa advisory ng guidance ng Commission on Human Rights na we should not be exposing po yung kanilang pagkakakilanlan,” said PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo in Jun Veneracion’s report in 24 Oras.
(That’s PNP’s policy in accordance with the advisory and guidance of the Commission on Human Rights that we should not be exposing their identity.)
The PNP also clarified that it was Quiboloy and the other co-accused who requested to have their faces covered when they were presented to the media on Monday.
“Because of the request of the lawyers at tsaka ng individuals, but we really can’t force them na ipakita ang kanilang mukha… I can assure you, itataya ko ang serbisyo ko na sila po ‘yun,” said Fajardo.
(Because it was the request of the lawyers and the individuals, but we really can’t force them to show their faces…I can assure you that it was them, I will put my service at risk to prove that it was really them who faced the media.)
Meanwhile, Quiboloy’s lawyer Israelito Torreon posted a cryptic message on Facebook about an alleged agreement violation on the surrender of his client.
“We will endure again with utmost patience the latest violations of our agreement with AFP/PNP re: surrender of Pastor ACQ and other co-accused (mugshot aside from the press briefing yesterday),” he said. “Court trials are upcoming, no more unnecessary noise. We will respond, if needed.”
On the other hand, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 106 has ordered the transfer of Quiboloy and four others from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame to the Quezon City Jail.
But the PNP said that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder and the co-accused will remain under its custody based on the commitment order from Pasig RTC Branch 159, where they are facing charges for the non-bailable human trafficking charges.
“So we don’t want to run the risk na ilipat sa Q.C., tapos mag-bail sila at wala na pong control doon ang PNP. We really have to harmonize the orders na ito,” said Fajardo.
(So we don’t want to run the risk of transferring them to QC, then they will suddenly post bail and the PNP will no longer have control on that. We really have to harmonize these orders.)
Quiboloy and others are scheduled for two arraignments on Friday, one at Quezon City RTC via video conferencing, and at the Pasig RTC, where they need to physically attend.
The PNP is already coordinating with the Department of Justice to resolve the conflict in schedule.
Police said Quiboloy is already adjusting at his detention facility in Camp Crame.
“Sabi naman niya naga-adjust siya, siyempre bagong environment. But according to him, nakapagpahinga naman siya at medyo mainit lang daw, but meron naman pong electric fan doon,” said Fajardo.
(He told us that he is adjusting, of course, it was a new environment. But according to him, he’s just resting and it was kind of hot inside, but there is an electric fan inside.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News
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