Hontiveros asks DOJ to issue lookout order vs Pastor Quiboloy
By Dhel Nazario
At A Glance
- Senator Risa Hontiveros has formally written a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, head of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), the Name Above Every Name church who is currently facing allegations of human trafficking and child sexual abuses.
Senator Risa Hontiveros has formally written a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, head of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), the Name Above Every Name church who is currently facing allegations of human trafficking and child sexual abuses.
In the letter addressed to DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Hontiveros requested that an ILBO be issued against Quiboloy since a Senate hearing date, which the senator is eyeing to set on Jan. 23, 2024, requires his presence.
Hontiveros made this call earlier after she filed a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry into the reported human trafficking violations, and sexual abuses on women and children allegedly committed by Quiboloy and leaders of the church.
In filing Senate Resolution (SR) No. 884, the lawmaker urged the Senate to look into the KOJC’s liability under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act, also known as Republic Act (RA) No. 9208.
The resolution mentioned the alleged “pastorals” employed by the organization who are tasked to perform special personal tasks and errands for Quiboloy.
Some of these tasks are allegedly sexual in nature. Some pastorals are also ordered to wash clothes, bathe, clean, and massage the religious leader.
The resolution also cited Quiboloy’s indictment in November 2021, together with two other KOJC officials over trafficking charges by the United States (US) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“An investigation in aid of legislation will also allow us to determine whether our updated human trafficking laws are able to cover large-scale and systemic acts of trafficking done under the cover of a religious organization,” the resolution stated.