Hontiveros to DFA: Cancel Quiboloy’s passport
After the cancellation of gun licenses, Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel the passport of fugitive Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is facing various cases of alleged abuses.
Hontiveros made the statement after Quiboloy’s continued failure to appear before the Senate and courts. Quiboloy and his associates have been charged with child abuse and sexual abuse offenses, with cases filed in the Davao City court. The pastor is also facing a non-bailable human trafficking case before a Pasig City court.
“Instead of appearing in the Senate or the courts, he continuously recorded an audio message that seemed to insult the government’s ability to track him down. This is appalling. This should not be allowed to pass, but only challenge the government more to exhaust all means to restrict his movements,” Hontiveros said in Filipino.
In previous interviews, DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said that when a passport is canceled, it is a “red flag for any application in all DFA consular offices within and outside the Philippines.”
Daza further explained that a canceled passport is reported to both the Bureau of Immigration and the Interpol office in the Philippines. Interpol PH then informs Interpol HQ, which then includes the canceled passport in the alert system of international border controls.
“The world is closing in on him. He is accused of crimes that transcend continents and nationalities. I am confident that many countries are willing to work with the Philippines to hold him accountable,” the senator said, emphasizing that three of the victim-survivors who gave their testimonies against Quiboloy in the Senate committee on women hearings were foreign nationals.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil ordered police units Monday to intensify their manhunt operation against Quiboloy.
At a press briefing in Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said that Marbil instructed newly appointed Police Regional Office 11 regional director BGen. Aligre Martinez to escalate ongoing manhunt efforts, expanding beyond the Davao region.
“Rest assured that the PNP will not stop cooperating with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) because they are the lead agency here,” Fajardo said in Filipino.
The PNP last April 26 revoked the firearms license and registration of Quiboloy and his co-accused associate, Ingrid Canada, in relation to a child abuse case in Davao City.
Quiboloy has at least 19 firearms registered under his name, while one gun is registered in Canada’s name.
Quiboloy and Canada are facing serious charges including qualified human trafficking and child abuse, carrying penalties of reclusion perpetua (40 years imprisonment).
Earlier, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the arrest of the KOJC founder is now in the hands of the PNP and NBI.
Zubiri signed the warrant of arrest against Quiboloy on the recommendation of Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate committee on women and children investigating the case against Quiboloy.
The Senate President said the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms has made proper coordination with law enforcement agencies for the arrest of the fugitive pastor.