MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) said there was nothing illegal with the offer of a reward for information that may lead to the arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Quiboloy faces trafficking and child and sexual abuse cases in courts in Davao City and in Pasig. The controversial pastor however has said that these accusations came from disgruntled former members of his religious group.  

During the continuation of the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, which is investigating if there was excessive force in the serving of a warrant against Quiboloy, DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty said various laws allow the offer of a reward such as the National Internal Revenue Code, Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, and Anti-Terrorism Act.

READ: Duterte slams freeze order on Quiboloy assets

In July, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos said private individuals offered P10 million for the said information.

“This is a reward, not a bounty. A bounty is for people who should be arrested because they are convicts of a crime or they have outstanding warrant of arrest,” Ty said.

“Legal ang pag-alok ng pabuya or reward. Bakit? Unang una, kasama ito sa trabaho namin sa justice sector. Dapat namin ipatupad ang mga criminal laws natin at hindi ito maipapatupad kung ang mga akusado ay hindi matatagpuan. Bukod doon, maliwanag naman sa ating sistema na hindi bawal ang pabuya para mahanap ang isang akusado at madala sa husgado,” Ty added.

(The offer of a reward is legal. Why? Firstly because this is part of our work in the justice sector. We should implement criminal laws and this will not be done if the accused are not found. Aside from that, it is clear in our system that rewards are not prohibited to find an accused and bring him to court.)

READ: CA freezes Quiboloy and KOJC bank accounts, properties

IS REWARD AGAINST THE LAW?

Quiboloy’s counsel, Atty. Israelito Torreon, argued, however, that the Abalos’ acceptance of the reward is against Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.  

“Public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept directly or indirectly. The fact that he announced it even if he did not physically accept the money, but offering the reward is already an indirect acceptance of that favor. So therefore it is covered by the law,” Torreon said.

“Public office is a public trust. Any air of suspicion must be prevented,” he added.

Ty was quick to counter Torreon’s statement, “Di ito suhol. Maliwanag sa batas ito ay magiging suhol kung inalok ito para sa pabor. Di naman nagbibigay ng pabor si Secretary Abalos. Ginagawa lang niya ang kanyang tungkulin, ang aming tungkulin na magpatupad ang batas.”

(This is not a bribe. It is clear in the law that it will be a bribe if it is offered in exchange for a favor. Secretary Abalos was not giving a favor. He was just doing his job, our job to implement the law.)

Abalos defended himself by saying, “Never ako nag-solicit, never ko po nahawakan ang pera. Gusto lang nila tumulong at sila po ay nag-aalok ng pera sa mga magbibigay ng paraan upang mahuli si pastor.”

(I have never solicited, I have never gotten hold of the money. They just want to help and offer money to those who will help capture the pastor.)

'NAGIPIT NA SI PASTOR'

Eleanor Cardona, executive secretary of the KOJC, wondered why there was so much interest in Quiboloy when other pressing issues exist in the country.

“Walang ibang itinuturo si pastor kung di pagmamahalan. Kaligtasan. Pagtulong, nation building. Ever since yun talaga ang adbokasiya ni pastor bigla na lang nagkaganto. Nung nawala si, natapos na si PRRD, nagipit na si pastor,” Cardona remarked.

(Pastor teaches love. Salvation. helping others, nation building. That has been his advocacy ever since. When the term of PRRD (former President Rodrigo Duterte) ended, the pastor was put in a tight spot.)

Abalos and Philippine National Police Regional Director Brig. General Nicolas Torre III appealed to Quiboloy to surface to put an end to the issue. 

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