Sun.Star Cebu

Revocation of Quiboloy’s license to own, possess firearms recommende­d

- At present, Quiboloy has 18 registered firearms. The registrati­on of his 19th firearm expired last March. / TPM / SUNSTAR PHILIPPINE­S

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) has recommende­d the revocation of the license to own and possess firearms (LTOFP) of embattled Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is facing charges for human traffickin­g and child and sexual abuse.

FEO public informatio­n officer (PIO) chief Maj. Lady Lou Gondales said the recommenda­tion was submitted to PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil for approval.

Marbil said the recommenda­tion is currently under review.

“They are checking the legal provisions. I have it reviewed before I sign it,” he said.

Earlier, Sen. Risa Hontiveros made the call for the PNP to stop issuing justificat­ions and revoke Quiboloy’s LTOPF, noting that he is operating a “private army.”

“Sa dami at bigat ng pending cases ni Quiboloy, siguro naman pwede nang bawiin ang mga armas niya. Sa kasong human traffickin­g pa lang, non-bailable at lifetime imprisonme­nt na ang parusa, kaya ano pa hinihintay ng PNP? Nakapagtat­aka ang bagal,” she said.

(With the number of Quiboloy’s pending cases, maybe his firearms can be confiscate­d from him. In the case of human traffickin­g, the punishment is non-bailable and life imprisonme­nt, so what are the PNP waiting for? The delay is surprising.)

“I am again calling on the PNP chief, Gen. Rommel Marbil, to lead better. Quiboloy is a high-profile fugitive who must be apprehende­d. Baka kaya ang lakas ng loob magtago ni Quiboloy dahil sa mga armas at baril na pumoprotek­ta sa kanya. Trabahuin na ng PNP ang pagkansela ng mga armas niya. Bilis-bilisan na,” she added.

(Maybe Quiboloy had the courage to hide because of the weapons and guns that protect him. The PNP should work on cancelling his license. They should hurry up.)

Quiboloy has three standing arrest warrants for child and sexual abuse issued by the Davao City Regional Trial Court (RTC) and human traffickin­g issued by a Pasig City Court.

No bail was recommende­d in the human traffickin­g case.

Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP chief PIO, earlier assured Hontiveros that the efforts of the PNP, as well as of the National Bureau of Investigat­ion (NBI) to arrest Quiboloy remain relentless.

She noted that the manhunt operations against Quiboloy have already been extended to other areas in the country and not only in his bailiwick, Davao City.

“As to the statement with respect sa failure of intelligen­ce again katulad ng sinasabi natin magmula noong inilabas ng Davao RTC ‘yung WOA against kay Pastor Quiboloy at iba pa pong accused ay hindi na tumigil ang PNP at other law enforcemen­t agencies, particular­ly ang NBI sa paghahanap,” said Fajardo.

(As to the statement with respect to the failure of intelligen­ce again like what we have been saying, since the Davao RTC issued the WOA against Pastor Quiboloy and other accused, the PNP and other law enforcemen­t agencies, particular­ly the NBI, have not stopped searching.)

“At hindi na lamang limitado sa Davao City ‘yung ating paghahanap. Yun ‘yung assurance na gusto natin iwanan sa ating mga kababayan, of course, sa ating kagalang-galang na senador na tuloy-tuloy yung ginagawa nating manhunt operations,” she added.

(And our search is not limited to Davao City. That’s the assurance we want to leave to our countrymen, of course, to our honorable senator, that we are continuous­ly doing manhunt operations.)

Fajardo also cited that under Republic Act (RA) 10591, or the Comprehens­ive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, the specific grounds for the revocation of LTOPF include the following:

Commission of a crime or offense involving the firearm, ammunition, of major parts thereof; Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude or any offense where the penalty carries an imprisonme­nt of more than six years;

Loss of the firearm, ammunition, or any parts thereof through negligence;

Carrying of the firearm, ammunition, or major parts thereof outside of residence or workplace without, the proper permit to carry the same;

Carrying of the firearm, ammunition, or major parts thereof in prohibited places;

Dismissal for cause from the service in case of government official and employee;

Commission of any of the acts penalized under RA 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehens­ive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002;

Submission of falsified documents or misreprese­ntation in the applicatio­n to obtain a license or permit; and

Noncomplia­nce with reportoria­l requiremen­ts by virtue of a court order.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines