By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Not taking any chances, democratic socialist Senator Risa Hontiveros has alerted the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the possible escape of self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy of Davao-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) who is allegedly facing charges of sexual abuses and human trafficking in the United States.

Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, has written to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, seeking the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) ahead of the Senate’s impending investigation into Quiboloy and church officials scheduled for January 23, 2024.

It was learned that the ILBO is different from a Hold Departure Order (HBO).

An HBO is issued by a court, while ILBO can be issued by the DOJ and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

On Wednesday, December 13, Hontiveros stressed that the ILBO will serve as a preventive measure against Quiboloy’s potential departure from the country and compel him to be present at the January 23, 2024, Senate hearing.

Senate Resolution 884 filed by Hontiveros stated: “An investigation in aid of legislation will also allow us to determine whether our updated human trafficking laws can cover large-scale and systemic acts of trafficking done under the cover of a religious organization.”

The resolution revealed that Quiboloy’s KOJC has pastorals divided into the “inner circle” and the “inner of the innermost circle”.

“Some of these pastorals were still minors during their recruitment and during the period they were made to perform sexual services… Apollo Quiboloy allegedly coerces the members of the organization — many of whom are minors — to perform exploitative acts, such as begging in the streets and soliciting money from strangers,” it also claimed.

Last year, Quiboloy was sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, among 40 other individuals and entities sanctioned due to their supposed connection to corruption or human rights abuse across nine countries.

But Quiboloy’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio has brushed off allegations against his client.

“These are already the subject of a criminal proceeding in California in the United States,” he disclosed in an ANC Dateline Philippines interview.

“If you think your witnesses are strong, why don’t you take them to court where the fight is fair and there is due process?” Topacio also dared Hontiveros.

(ai/mnm)