(UPDATE) A P10 MILLION reward has been offered for the arrest of fugitive evangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted for child abuse and human trafficking, Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said Monday.
A P1 million bounty was also offered for the arrest of Quiboloy’s co-accused, identified as Crisente, Paulene and Ingrid Canada, Sylvia Cemañes and Jackielyn Roy.
Abalos said the rewards were raised by private individuals whom he declined to name.
Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE
He said that the donors were frustrated at Quiboloy’s continued ability to evade arrest and wanted to help.
Abalos called on Quiboloy to surrender, so as to prove his innocence against the accusations raised against him.
“What’s happening is like our system of government is being trampled upon,” Abalos said in Filipino. “If you serve a warrant, they treat you like the bad guy. It’s simple. The law is the law, and the guilty must be held responsible, and that’s what we will do to Pastor Quiboloy.”
“If you are not guilty, surrender. Is that so hard to do? Our intelligence is that he is still in the country,” he added.
On June 10, about 100 policemen swooped down on the compound of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) in Davao City to serve an arrest warrant for Quiboloy, but the fugitive pastor and his co-accused were nowhere to be found.
Quiboloy supporters, led by former president Rodrigo Duterte, used the raid to accuse the government of using excessive force to capture Quiboloy.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is gathering witnesses for obstruction of justice charges against the coddlers of Quiboloy.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil noted that people who are hiding Quiboloy may face charges for obstruction of justice for harboring or concealing or facilitating the escape of any person he knows or has reasonable grounds to believe or suspect has committed an offense under existing penal laws.
He said Duterte may bear some liability after he said that he knows where Quiboloy is hiding.
Duterte was named as the new administrator of properties belonging to KoJC.
Quiboloy has three standing arrest warrants for child and sexual abuse issued by the Davao City Regional Trial Court and human trafficking issued by a Pasig City court. These cases are non-bailable.
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