Former President Rodrigo Duterte may be charged for allegedly harboring a fugitive – his spiritual adviser Pastor Apollo Quiboloy – who was arrested by authorities inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City Sunday, a House leader said.
“Being the administrator of Pastor Quiboloy’s estate, specifically the KOJC in Davao City where the evangelist was arrested, makes him (Duterte) liable under the law – at the very least for harboring a fugitive,” House Assistant Majority Leader Jil Bongalon said.
Bongalon, a lawyer by profession, added: “The former president can – I think – fit in the definition of an accomplice.”
He said Duterte, being a fellow lawyer, “also means being an officer of the court.”
“It can even be a basis for a petition for disbarment, more so if it can be proven that he did this deliberately – it means not to serve the ends of justice, which is obviously an infraction of the law,” Bongalon said.
In July, Duterte said he knew where Quiboloy was hiding, but would not disclose it.
“If the question is, ‘Where is the pastor?’ I know where, but it’s a secret. He does not want to surrender. So don’t surrender,” the former President added.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, for his part, said the people who harbored Quiboloy must be investigated and sued for obstruction of justice.
“I’m sure someone should be guilty of obstruction of justice for harboring, concealing someone who is wanted by law,” Abalos said at a press conference as he presented Quiboloy and his four co-accused to the media yesterday.
At the same time, Bongalon said Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte as well as Senator Ronald dela Rosa may also be investigated and even charged for obstruction of justice for trying to divert policemen’s attention in serving Quiboloy’s arrest warrant.
“As far as I’m concerned, the same principle applies to both of them. If the former president – who used to be the chief implementor of the country’s laws – can be charged for helping Quiboloy hide, then so should his daughter and the former PNP chief who is now a senator,” he said.
“Let us remember that the VP herself declared that the good pastor has already left the country. And now with Quiboloy’s arrest, what does that make of her? Did she or did she not protect him and obstruct the administration of justice by diverting police’s attention?” Bongalon said.
Last week, the Vice President expressed her belief that Quiboloy may no longer be in Davao City as he scored the police for what she described as abuse of authority in serving the arrest warrant.
“In the long time that has passed since the Senate hearings started, he (Quiboloy) may have already mulled over whether he should leave KOJC or not. That is one thing that the administration should think about,” she said.
“One guess where Pastor Quiboloy is? He is already in heaven,” the Vice President added in jest.
Prior to Quiboloy’s arrest, Dela Rosa urged President Marcos to “listen” to the KOJC members and put an end to the standoff.
He likewise urged the Philippine National Police to reassess their operations at the KOJC compound.
As this developed, Interior Abalos disclosed that Duterte filed two counts of malicious mischief complaints against him and other officials.
“These are just the cases filed against us,” Abalos said.
Abalos said they are expecting more cases after KOJC lawyer Israelito Torreon threatened to file more complaints against them.
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