‘Quiboloy can’t set surrender conditions’

MANILA, Philippines — In hiding after being ordered arrested by a Davao City court for abuse of minors, pastor Apollo Quiboloy “is in no position” to demand conditions “or any kind of guarantee” for his surrender, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said yesterday.

“Quiboloy 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,” Remulla said in a statement.

“We are all equal in the eyes of the law. With all our rights, we also share the burden of responsibility,” he said in a separate statement sent through text to The STAR.

What the government can guarantee, according to Remulla, is Quiboloy’s safety.

President Marcos also said Quiboloy was wagging the dog with his conditions, and that the government could only promise the pastor fair proceedings.

Quiboloy 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.

In his message, 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 (DOJ).

The fugitive pastor 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.”

Calling the accusations against Quiboloy “serious and morally abhorrent,” Remulla said evidence was strong enough to pin down the religious sect leader.

“Argue your charges before the court where you remain the accused, tell the naked truth, that way you can redeem yourself,” Remulla said, addressing Quiboloy.

The DOJ is awaiting the issuance of another arrest warrant against Quiboloy by a Pasig City court for qualified human trafficking.

For President Marcos, Quiboloy may be trying to “wag the dog” by demanding conditions for his surrender.

“It seems to me a