DOJ: Rody may be held liable for harboring Quiboloy

MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte may be liable for obstruction of justice for harboring Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said yesterday.

The DOJ, through its budget sponsor Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon, confirmed this during plenary deliberations of its proposed 2025 budget at the House of Representatives.

Upon questioning of ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, the DOJ, through Bongalon, said obstruction of justice may be committed if a person interfered in arresting or punishing an individual.

Asked if Duterte can be held liable under this law, Bongalon said, “Yes, if the elements of the offense are met.”

The Philippine National Police created a special investigation team to focus on identifying individuals suspected of harboring Quiboloy after the PNP launched its operation to find the KOJC leader.

Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP public information officer, said there are plans to charge KOJC officers and members with obstruction of justice.

“There are names on the list, but we will wait for the formal submission of charges. We are coordinating with the DOJ to ensure that the cases we file are strong and airtight,” Fajardo said at a press briefing in Camp Crame yesterday.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Quiboloy is not deserving of house arrest because he “made it difficult” for authorities to take him into custody.

Although the decision to place Quiboloy under house arrest depends on the courts, Remulla said those who are usually given this are those who voluntarily surrender themselves to authorities.

“Those who hid and made it difficult for the government to take them into custody are not usually allowed house arrest,” he added.

Remulla said “it does not appear” that Quiboloy voluntarily surrendered to the authorities, noting that it took the police 16 days to search for him in the KOJC compound in Davao City.

“Either he was going to get caught, thus his decision to surrender, or he was about to be arrested and decided to surrender. In either case, the spontaneity of his action is absent,” he added.

Defense lawyers earlier asked the court to place