Quiboloy in China? Come out, says Marcos

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) head Apollo Quiboloy may already be in China, his lawyer said yesterday, even as President Marcos asked the pastor to surface and follow the law instead of questioning the motive of people offering a reward for his arrest.

Quiboloy and five others, who are facing child sexual abuse and human trafficking cases before courts in Davao City and Pasig City, have remained at large despite efforts by authorities to arrest them in botched operations in four of the kingdom’s key properties last June 10.

Legal counsel Israelito Torreon told The STAR that news that the pastor has fled to China is making the rounds, but he could not confirm this.

“I just heard,” he said.

The failure of authorities to arrest Quiboloy led Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos to announce a P10-million bounty for anyone who can provide information on his whereabouts.

Quiboloy’s camp has questioned the move, saying the reward is “discriminatory” and “surprisingly disproportionate” and places the life of Quiboloy at risk.

Speaking to reporters in Rizal yesterday, Marcos said he does not see any issue if private citizens offer a reward for Quiboloy’s arrest.

“Why not? They want to help us bring a fugitive to justice. You know, he is a fugitive. He is hiding from the law,” the President said. “Now, if there are private citizens who want to assist the government in that effort to bring him to justice, I do not see (any issue).”

Marcos challenged Quiboloy to come out of hiding and maintained that the government is just following the law. “He can question their motives as much as they want but magpakita siya (he should surface),” the Chief Executive said.

“I question his motives. Let me question his motives. Why are we always questioned? We are just following the law. He should also follow the law,” he added.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte earlier told reporters, perhaps in jest, in Tacloban City that he was in constant communication with his former spiritual adviser and that he knew where the pastor is hiding.

Elements of the Special Action Force and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group last June 10 raided the KOJC main headquarters along