Vice President Sara Duterte has no plans of providing legal advice to embattled Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder and leader Apollo Quiboloy and said the case filed against him is a “good development.”
Vice President Sara Duterte and Pastor Apollo Quiboloy (Photo by Ali Vicoy /MANILA BULLETIN / KOJC)
“Hindi na po. Unang-una hindi na ako nagtatrabaho (Not anymore. First of all, I am not working) as a lawyer,” she said on Monday, April 8, when asked if she will help the televangelist with his surrender.
The official instead welcomed a case being filed in courts against Quiboloy after she earlier criticized how the preacher was being tried by publicity.
“Maganda ‘yung development na mayroon ng kaso, na nasa tamang forum (The case is a good development, it’s in the proper forum),” she added during a media interview at the Youthpreneur event of Go Negosyo with the Department of Education (DepEd) in Pasig City.
The Vice President, who has earlier backed Quiboloy despite a Senate committee ordering his appearance in an inquiry, seemed to have taken a step back in expressing her support.
“Ngayon, kung anumang ‘yung desisyon ni Pastor Quiboloy na gagawin niya ay personal na niyang desisyon. I’m sure pinag-isipan niya iyon (Now, whatever decision Pastor Quiboloy makes is her personal decision. I’m sure he would think about it),” Duterte added.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) last month filed a qualified human trafficking case before a Pasig City court and a case for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law, specifically the provision on sexual abuse of minors and maltreatment, before a Davao court.
A court in Davao City, Duterte’s hometown where brother Baste Duterte is mayor, issued warrants of arrest against Quiboloy and five of his followers for violation of RA 7610.
But in his voice message released through the DZAR 1026 YouTube channel, the religious preacher said he wants a written guarantee “that the Americans will not interfere in his case in the Philippines and that their Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the US embassy will not meddle.”
He also demanded a written guarantee from President Marcos, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Medardo de Lemos that the “US government will not interfere.”
The Senate has also ordered his arrest after he was cited in contempt for snubbing a panel’s investigations into the alleged sexual abuses in his ministry.