MANILA, Philippines — A reward of P10 million is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos announced yesterday.
Abalos also said that a P1-million reward will be given in exchange for any information that could lead to the arrest of his co-accused, three of them surnamed Canada.
“I would like to inform you that we will offer reward money on any individual who can give us information on the whereabouts of wanted Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada, Jackielyn Roy amd Sylvia Cemañes – the fugitives who are facing cases of child abuse and exploitation and qualified trafficking without bail,” Abalos said at a press conference.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is also considering the filing of a complaint for obstruction of justice against former president Rodrigo Duterte over his remarks that he knows where Quiboloy is hiding but “won’t tell.”
If it is really true, that is obstruction of justice and we are checking if we can file against these people,” Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, the PNP chief, said over radio dwPM.
“We are not happy when people make such statements,” he added, referring to Duterte’s earlier claim of knowing where Quiboloy is hiding.
Marbil said harboring a fugitive is against the law.
“He (Quiboloy) is not a pastor, he is a fugitive of the law,” he added.
Abalos issued a similar warning, saying those coddling Quiboloy could also face possible charges.
“Of course, that’s obstruction of justice. That is PD (Presidential Decree) 1829 or obstruction of justice. They can be charged 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 in order to prevent his arrest, prosecution and conviction,” Abalos said.
“We are looking into this. We are reviewing any statement telling the possible whereabouts (of Quiboloy) if it falls under PD 1829 and we are just waiting for witnesses to warrant the filing of cases under PD 1829,” he said.
Quiboloy and his co-accused have standing arrest warrants for sexual and child abuse and human trafficking cases. — Mark Ernest Villeza, Edith Regalado