President Marcos urged Quiboloy to just follow the law.
Calling him a fugitive, Marcos dares Quiboloy to give himself up
At a glance
President Marcos challenged embattled televangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to come out of hiding and face the accusations hurled against him instead of questioning the reward set up for information leading to his arrest.
Marcos said this after Quiboloy's camp questioned the motives of the private individuals who offered a P10 million bounty for his arrest.
In an ambush interview in Rodriguez, Rizal, the President dared the religious leader to just show up and face the charges against him.
"He can question their motives as much as they want. But magpakita siya (he should show himself)," he said.
"I question his motives. Let me question his motives. Bakit lagi kami kinukuwestiyon (Why is he always questioning us)?” he added.
President Marcos said there was nothing wrong with the government accepting donations from private individuals who wanted to see the arrest of Quiboloy, whom he called a fugitive.
"Bakit hindi (Why not)? They want to help us bring a fugitive to justice. You know, he is a fugitive. He is hiding from the law," he said.
Marcos then urged Quiboloy to just follow the law.
"Sinusundan lang namin ang batas. Sundin din niya ang batas (We're just following the law. He should do that, too)," he said.
Quiboloy and his co-accused have standing warrants of arrest for sexual and child abuse and human trafficking cases.
Early this week, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos announced that a reward of P10 million awaits anybody who has information that will lead to Quiboloy's arrest. In addition, P1 million will be given in exchange for information that will lead to the arrest of his co-accused.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte claimed to know Quiboloy's whereabouts. This led the Philippine National Police (PNP) to mull filing a complaint against Duterte for obstruction of justice.
However, former presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil was "humorless" as Duterte was only joking.