“Meron na po bang ginagawa ang Department of Justice (Has the DOJ done anything) to ensure that he will not be able to flee the country and escape arrest?”
Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas hurled this question Wednesday, Sept. 21 during the House plenary debate on the DOJ. The person in question? Controversial pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson and Davao de Oro 2nd district Rep. Ruwel Gonzaga sponsored and defended the DOJ budget during the debate.
“Tungkol sa (About the) pending case with Apollo Quiboloy who is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for sex trafficking of minors and women in the US (United States). Meron na po bang ginagawa ang (Has the DOJ done anything) to ensure that he will not be able to flee the country and escape arrest?” Brosas asked Gonzaga.
Quiboloy is wanted by the FBI for alleged “conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling,” as per the FBI website.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/19/churchman-quiboloy-extorted-sex-with-threats-of-damnation-us-indictment/
“There are cases involving Mr. Quiboloy and some of the cases were already dismissed. Some of the cases are under or ongoing investigations. We will report to the good Speaker and we will give you a copy of the report of the DOJ regarding the status of the cases against Quiboloy,” Gonzaga responded.
Unsatisfied with the response, Brosas asked if the DOJ had undertaken any specific actions against the churchman.
“The DOJ is trying hard to conduct the preliminary investigation. So the only effort and action of the DOJ is to conduct the preliminary investigation at this point of time. The DOJ cannot do more than is required by law,” the sponsor said.
“After the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, that would be the time the DOJ would do more and, of course, do the prosecution. As of this moment, let us await the decision and the result of the preliminary investigation...The conduct of the preliminary investigation is what the DOJ is doing,” Gonzaga added.
Brosas then urged the DOJ to investigate the allegations.
"Alam po natin na dapat (We know that we should)..we really go after perpetrators na ito (like these). Hindi po natin pwede payagan, lalong-lalo na sa Pilipinas, lalo na ang (We can’t allow this especially in the Philippines, especially when the) conviction and prosecution rate ng (of) trafficking cases, child molestations, at ibang klaseng (and other) perpetrations against children and woman ay napakababa (are extremely low),” Brosas ended.