MANILA, Philippines — “Apollo Quiboloy, magkaroon naman kayo ng kaunting hiya.”
(Apollo Quiboloy, have some shame).
This was what Sen. Risa Hontiveros had to say to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) most wanted, Apollo Quiboloy. The doomsday preacher, who faces human trafficking and child abuse charges, filed his certificate of candidacy for senator while he was in police custody.
“Para sa isang taong humaharap sa patong-patong na kaso kabilang ang human trafficking at child abuse, at nagtago pa nga sa batas, nagkaroon pa talaga kayo ng lakas ng loob na ipresenta ang iyong sarili sa taumbayan para maging mambabatas,” Hontiveros said in a statement on Wednesday, October 9.
(For a person who faces multiple cases including human trafficking and child abuse, hid from the law, you had the strength to present yourself to the nation to become a senator.)
To recall, Hontiveros was the senator who led the probe into Quiboloy’s alleged crimes. It was Hontiveros’ panel who issued one of the first arrest warrants for Quiboloy in March. The court cases against Quiboloy came a month later.
The opposition senator said that everyone had the right to run for a position to serve the nation, but trusted the public could be more discerning with their leaders.
“Let us not elect lawbreakers as lawmakers,” Hontiveros said.
Quiboloy, the supposed spiritual adviser of former president Rodrigo Duterte, went into hiding for most of 2024.
The authorities’ manhunt for Quiboloy spanned months, with things coming to a head when the Philippine National Police pinned down the doomsday preacher’s location to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City.
Quiboloy’s followers blocked a section of a Davao highway last August, leading to the arrest of several protesters.
Police remained stationed at the compound until Quiboloy’s surrender in September.
