Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Monday, April 29 urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel religious leader Apollo Quiboloy’s passport. 

Hontiveros, who is leading the investigation into Quiboloy’s alleged abuses, made the call after the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader continues to fail to appear before congressional hearings or before Philippine courts. 

The Senate committee on women and children, which Hontiveros chairs, is leading the investigation into the alleged rape, sexual abuse, human trafficking and labor complaints against Quiboloy. 

Quiboloy is facing criminal charges in the Philippines and the United States.

“Imbes na magpakita sa Senado o sa mga korte, panay record ng audio message na tila nang-iinsulto pa sa kakayanan ng gubyerno na matuntun siya (Instead of appearing before the Senate and the courts, he keeps on recording audio messages insulting the government’s ability to locate his whereabouts,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“This is appalling. This should not be allowed to pass, but only challenge government more to exhaust all means to restrict his movements,” Hontiveros said.

 

Hontiveros recalled that even DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza had said that when a passport is cancelled, it is a “red flag for any application in all DFA consular offices within and outside the Philippines.”

 

Daza further explained that a cancelled passport is reported to both the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Interpol office (Interpol) in the Philippines.

The Interpol PH then informs Interpol headquarters, which then includes the cancelled 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. Tiwala ako na maraming bansa ang handang makipagtulungan sa Pilipinas para papanagutin siya (I am certain that more countries are ready to coordiante with the Philippines to ensure make him accountable),” the senator said.

Hontiveros pointed out that three of the victim-survivors who gave their testimonies against Quiboloy in the Senate Committee on Women hearings were foreign nationals. 

 

“Kung ang puganteng Kongresista ay nahuli, sana naman maaresto din ang puganteng religious leader. Maliit ang mundo. Hindi niya matatakasan ang batas habambuhay (If a fugitive lawmaker can be arrested, I hope a fugitive religious leader would also be arrested. The world is small. He can’t escape the law forever),” Hontiveros reiterated),” she said.