MANILA – The camp of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy expressed doubt over the motive of alleged private individuals who offered a P10-million bounty for the arrest of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder.
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Quiboloy’s legal counsel, said it is questionable that Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) secretary Benhur Abalos could not reveal who are behind the bounty.
“May mga kwestyon lang po kami… kung [bakit] ayaw sabihin ni Secretary Abalos kung sino itong mga pribadong taong ito,” Topacio said in an interview with GTV’s Balitanghali on Tuesday.
He added: “Gusto namin malaman at makilatis ang kanilang motibo kung bakit itong si Pastor Quiboloy ay binibigyan nila ng napakalaking pabuya.”
Topacio, who also served as the counsel of former Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnie Teves, further said the Filipino people should have access to matters of public concern.
“The public have the right to know anyare doon sa intelligence funds na talaga naming pinaglalaanan at pinagpupuhunan ng mga pabuya sa ganitong rewards,” Topacio said.
“Siguro naman makikita niya. Maybe he will see the error of his ways at bawiin niya ‘yan. Kunin na lang pondo ng gobyerno at ilagay sa lugar ‘yung amount,” he added.
Abalos said in a press conference on Monday that there were “friends” who wanted to help in the case of Quiboloy and were offering a P10-million reward for information about him.
Warrants of arrest were issued against Quiboloy and others for alleged violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and Republic Act No. 9208 or Qualified Human Trafficking.
Quiboloy has also been indicted by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling./PN
