PNP eyes suspension of Quiboloy”s gun permits amid arrest warrants

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is studying the suspension of the permits for the guns of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

“Yung pagsu-suspend po ng permits at license to own and possess firearms ay pinag-aaralan na po ng Firearms and Explosives Office,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing on Monday.

(The Firearms and Explosives Office is studying the possible suspension of his permits and licenses to own and possess firearms.)

“In this particular case po, I understand, ang kaso ni Pastor Quiboloy is not related to any use of firearms. But nonetheless, itatanong po natin yan sa FEO kung iyo po bang pagsasampa ng kaso sa kanya for child abuse will be sufficient ground for the possible revocation and cancellation of his license,” she added.

(In this particular case, I understand, Pastor Quiboloy’s case is not related to any use of firearms. But nevertheless, we will ask the FEO if his case for child abuse is a sufficient ground for the possible revocation and cancellation of his license.)

According to Fajardo, Quiboloy has 19 firearms and one of them already expired in March.

Despite having firearms, Fajardo said the PNP cannot consider Quiboloy as “armed and dangerous” because has no records of being violent or employing a private armed group in the past.

“For now, hindi pa po because wala naman pong indication before na naging marahas po si Pastor Quiboloy at wala naman po tayong na-monitor so far na siya po ay nagma-maintain ng private armed group or army,” she said.

(For now, not yet because there is no indication before that Pastor Quiboloy has been violent and we have not monitored anything so far that he is maintaining a private armed group or army.)

Fajardo said authorities are hoping that the capture or surrender of Quiboloy will be peaceful.

“Ayaw natin na mahaluan ng anumang karahasan or gulo kung saka-sakaling i-serve na po natin itong mga warrant of arrest na in-issue po laban kay Pastor Quiboloy. We are still hoping and praying na maging mapayapa po ang pagsuko niya,” she said.

(We do not want any violence or trouble when we serve the arrest warrants issued against Pastor Quiboloy. We are still hoping and praying that his surrender will be peaceful.)

Authorities have already served the arrest warrant issued by a regional trial court in Davao City against Quiboloy and his associates over charges of child abuse.

Four of the co-accused turned themselves over to authorities, while another, Cresente Canada, was arrested by NBI agents. All five have posted bail but Quiboloy remains at-large.

Last Thursday, Quiboloy was not at the KOJC compound in Davao City but the warrant was handed to the administrator in the area.

Quiboloy was also not at the group’s prayer mountain in Barangay Tamayong nor at his resort in Samal Island.

The Senate and House of Representatives have issued subpoenas against Quiboloy.

A Senate hearing was conducted on the alleged human trafficking and sexual abuse of some members of Quiboloy’s KOJC, while a House hearing is tackling issues against the franchise renewal of Quiboloy’s Sonshine Media Network Inc (SMNI).

In the United States, Central District of California Judge Terry Hatter Jr. on March 7 ordered the unsealing of the arrest warrants against Quiboloy and his co-accused.

The unsealing was requested by the United States Attorney Criminal Division handling Quiboloy’s case, which involves charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and cash smuggling.

“Upon application of the government, and for good cause shown, the arrest warrants and returns in this case are unsealed,” Hatter said in his order dated March 1, 2024.

According to New York lawyer Lara Gregory, this could be the first step in initiating the extradition process by the US Department of Justice for Quiboloy.

Now that the arrest warrants for Quiboloy and his co-accused have been unsealed, INTERPOL may also issue Red Notices for their names to be put on notice, he added.—RF, GMA Integrated News