DAVAO CITY – Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin I. Jubahib confirmed on Monday, September 9, that he played a role in mediating the discussions that led to the surrender of “self-appointed son of God” and Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.
JUBAHIB
In a pre-recorded interview posted in his Facebook page, Jubahib said he facilitated the communication between the KOJC Board of Directors, including their legal counsel, Israelito Torreon, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Jubahib said the KOJC Board of Directors and Torreon approached him last week of August and expressed their desire to negotiate with the Intelligence Service of the AFP (ISAFP), hoping and looking forward that the governor could help them in such an urgent and confidential matter.
“Initially, I was somewhat hesitant because we all know the issue regarding Pastor Quiboloy was highly sensitive. But as they continued reaching out and sought my assistance in facilitating a dialogue with the Philippine Army, I decided to help them,” Jubahib said in a local dialect.
The governor said he approached Army 60th Infantry “Mediator” Battalion commander, Lt. Col. Jovily Carmel Cabading, and informed her that the KOJC’s Board of Directors, through their legal counsel, requested a confidential dialogue on August 30.
“It was regarding Pastor Quiboloy’s situation because he expressed his intention to surrender to the government authorities through his legal counsel. He placed his trust in the Philippine Army, the ISAFP,” he said, adding that dialogues of the two parties took place here.
Jubahib recalled that about seven discussions took place before trust was built between the two parties. He said when both parties had fully established trust, the decision was made, and that’s when the religious preacher turned himself into the authorities on Sunday, September 8.
“It was agreed that ISAFP would wait for the final decision from the Boards of Directors and Atty. Torreon, who would personally accompany Pastor Quiboloy to the designated area where their final arrangements were made for his retrieval, which only they knew about,” Jubahib added.
During their dialogue on September 7, Jubahib said the Army advised them not to inquire about Quiboloy’s location, as everyone was wary to avoid any issues during the transport of the religious preacher, ensuring that no blame would fall on anyone involved in the discussions.
Jubahib said he decided to step back as the camp of the KOJC and the PA almost reached their final agreement and informed them that he didn’t want to be involved any further. He added that it was already up to the two parties to decide regarding the pastor's transport to the ISAFP.
“The plan was that once the pastor arrived safely at the ISAFP –since his Board of Directors was concerned about his security – that’s the time they would contact Major Gen. Benjamin Silo Jr., the police regional director, and all the police commanders in Davao to confirm his arrival,” he said.
Jubahib clarified that he has no personal connection with Quiboloy. He said he never met him in the dialogues between the KOJC camp and the Army, but only Torreon, his legal counsel, when he was suspended as governor for three months for alleged administrative complaints.
The governor said he was informed that Quiboloy had surrendered through a text message he received Sunday evening while in a fraternal meeting in Davao City. He added that with what happened earlier in Davao, he only wishes to contribute to the community’s peace and order.
Another Quiboloy legal counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, belied claims that his client was arrested by the Philippine National Police. He said his client surrendered to the AFP and was not arrested by the PNP.
Topacio underscored that it is “epal (shameless self-promotion) to the highest level” for Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. to take credit for the “non-existent arrest seemingly.” Abalos posted on his social media account that Quiboloy had already been arrested.
TORREON
In a KOJC press conference live on social media with spokespersons, legal counsels, and political commentators on Monday night, Torreon wondered what information was given to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. by his people that made him insist that Quiboloy was arrested.
Marcos said that Quiboloy did not voluntarily surrender to the AFP. He described the operation as primarily a “police action,” with military support provided to relieve the PNP, which surrounded the KOJC compound from August 24 to September 8.
“He (President Marcos) must have been grossly misinformed,” Torreon said as he recalled the days the police flocked to the compound to implement the arrest warrant for Quiboloy and other co-accused until he decided to approach and seek Jubahib’s assistance on August 30.
Torreon’s statement coincides with the governor. He said he asked Jubahib if he knew someone from the AFP as he wished to arrange a meeting with them. He added that he met the AFP in a house near the airport and conducted initial discussion.
“My sincere apologies to ISAFP because I should inform the truth,” Torreon said. He added that the Armed Forces agreed to talk to him as they foresaw a possible battleground where the nation might somewhat explode because of the situation at the compound.
“Their (AFP members) aim is for the nation's stability. They told us that they had to involve the police because they already had boarded a lot of resources there (at the compound) at saka baka mapahiya sila kung hindi natin sila i-involve (they might be embarrassed if we don't involve them),” the legal counsel said.
He said he discovered that Quiboloy has been secretly moved out of the compound on September 8. He added that he was unaware of how the ISAFP assisted the pastor. He narrated how he and Quiboloy were fetched separately and met at the ISAFP.
“Gen. Macapaz informed me that the PNP chief, Gen. Rommel Marbil, asked for a photo, a proof of life. I said sir, no media yet. Gen. Macapaz assured us that the picture would not be released,” Torreon said.
“When we arrived in Manila, a flood of text messages started coming in because Secretary Abalos had made the post. Gen. Macapaz said he was unaware and had only sent the photo to Marbil. When we exited the C-130, cameras were already waiting,” he added.
Torreon said they could not do anything about the situation. They boarded a coaster and headed to the PNP headquarters in Quezon City.
However, he wanted to clarify that his client voluntarily surrendered, as he showed “a willingness to submit to the law and respond to the charges against him.”
Quiboloy had three arrest warrants – one from the Senate issued in March and two issued by the courts here and in Pasig City in April for alleged sexual abuse and violence, child abuse, and human trafficking.
Torreon said his client surrendered as he could not bear to witness the suffering that his people had been experiencing for two weeks.
He added that he was waiting for positive results vis-a-vis legal remedies his lawyers opted to avail, thus, he was out of reach for several days.