DFA URGED TO CANCEL QUIBOLOY'S PASSPORT

The Department of Foreign Affairs has been urged to cancel the Philippine passport of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy for resisting to face charges filed against him before the courts.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who leads the Senate investigation into Quiboloy's supposed involvement in human trafficking and sexual abuses, made the call, stressing the need for the government to make all the available efforts to catch the KOJC leader.

“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 facing the Senate or the courts, Quiboloy has been releasing audio recordings that insult the capacity of the government to locate him). 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.

“Kung ang puganteng kongresista ay nahuli, sana naman maaresto din ang puganteng religious leader. Maliit ang mundo. Hindi niya matatakasan ang batas habambuhay,” she added.

(If the fugitive congressman was caught, I hope that this fugitive religious leader will likewise be arrested. The world is small. He cannot escape the law forever.)

Quiboloy is currently in hiding amid the issuance of arrest warrants against him for alleged human trafficking, sexual assault, and maltreatment.

The Senate also released an arrest order against the KOJC leader for failing to attend its investigation on the alleged human trafficking and sexual abuse of some members of Quiboloy's religious group.

Hontiveros noted previous interviews with DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza where the latter stated that when a passport is cancelled, it is a “red flag for any application in all DFA consular offices within and outside the Philippines.”

The senator also noted Daza's explanation that a cancelled passport is reported to both the Bureau of Immigration and the Interpol office in the Philippines.

The Interpol in the Philippines then informs Interpol Headquarters, which then includes the cancelled passport in the alert system of international border controls, Hontiveros said.

“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 trust that more countries would be willing to cooperate with the Philippines to hold him accountable),” the senator said.

GMA News Online sought comment from Quiboloy's lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, on Hontiveros' remarks but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.—AOL, GMA Integrated News

This article DFA urged to cancel Quiboloy's passport was originally published in GMA News Online.

2024-04-29T05:09:12Z dg43tfdfdgfd