By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan and Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency
The Court of Appeals (CA) has issued a freeze order on known assets of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) religious group and its officers led by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
The August 6 notice issued by the CA’s Special Third Division covered 10 bank accounts, seven real properties, five motor vehicles, and one aircraft owned by Quiboloy.
The order also includes the 47 bank accounts, 16 real properties, and 16 motor vehicles of the KOJC, and 17 bank accounts, five real properties, and 26 motor vehicles of Swara Sug Media Corporation—which operates the religious group’s media arm, Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
The CA said it found a reasonable ground to believe that Quiboloy’s money and properties are “linked to unlawful activities and predicate crimes” not only for qualified human trafficking, sexual and child abuse, and sex trafficking of children—but also fraud, conspiracy, marriage fraud, smuggling, and money laundering, among others.
“In order to avoid the possibility of the funds in the subject bank accounts and/or properties from being withdrawn, removed, transferred, concealed or placed beyond the reach of law enforcers, this Court finds it appropriate and judicious to issue a 20-day freeze order as prayed for by petitioner over said bank accounts, including all other related or materially-linked accounts, and the real and personal properties enumerated in the ex-parte petition,” the CA said in the decision signed by Associate Justice Gabriel Robeniol.
In a statement, Justice Sec. Jesus Remulla hailed the court’s “bold action in freezing the properties and restraining the financial muscle of fugitive Quiboloy who has been constantly mocking the justice system by evading arrest and our courts of law.
“This Order demonstrates the CA’s firm resolve as a partner of the DOJ in upholding the rule of law. This is just one step which has somewhat provided hope for truth and justice,” Remulla said.
Quiboloy still in Davao
Meanwhile, Davao Region police director PBGEN. Nicolas Torre III said that, based on their intelligence monitoring, Quiboloy is still within the 30-hectare property of the KOJC in Davao City.
“The indicators and informants are telling us na nandoon lang sa loob (si Quiboloy) kaya nga binabantayan siya ng kanyang mga tagasunod,” Torre told reporters at Camp Crame during the 123rd Police Service Anniversary.
Torre said this was the information which they have been receiving even before a P10-million bounty was placed on the KOJC leader who is wanted for serious criminal offenses.
He said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is carefully considering its moves due to the possibility of violence that may ensue should the police force its way inside the KOJC compound amid the presence of hundreds of Quiboloy’s die-hard supporters.
Indications of the escalation of violence, he said, was already reflected when Quiboloy’s supporters used a firetruck to hose down the police officers who were supposed to serve the arrest warrant at the KOJC compound on June 10.
“The challenge is how to implement this (arrest) in accordance with the rules but at the same time, with least casualty on both sides. We don’t want it (violence) to happen,” he said.
Torre said another challenge is that searching inside the KOJC property would certainly take a long time, since aside from the fact that the area encompasses 30 hectares, there are also several establishments inside, including a coliseum four times bigger than the Araneta Coliseum.
“And the longer the cops stay inside, the bigger the possibility that violence may erupt,” he said.
Tightly guarded
Torre said they are ensuring that the compound is tightly guarded to prevent the fugitive’s escape.
Police are also monitoring the KOJC’s air assets, which includes two airplanes and four helicopters.
Torre said they have plans if Quiboloy attempts to flee using his air assets.
“We have our air unit. Our air unit is armed. Worse comes to worst, they can try the might of the government if they want to do that,” he said.
While the PNP can still choose the path of forcibly entering the KOJC, Torre said they still consider the safety and well-being of Quiboloy’s supporters.
This is the reason, he said, for the police’s continuous search for ways to arrest Quiboloy without inciting violence.
“We are concentrating on hammering into his head and his lawyers that the only way for this to be resolved peacefully and with justice for all is for him to submit to the jurisdiction of the court,” Torre said.
“We are hoping that his supporters would be enlightened that what the police are doing is a very simple part of the justice system.”
Meanwhile, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros is hoping that the freeze order will disable Quiboloy’s capability to escape the law.
“Hopefully, this freezes Quiboloy’s ability to escape. Hopefully also, our local entities can work with their foreign counterparts to stanch the flow of money to offshore accounts,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“Umpisa na ito ng pagkamit ng hustisya.” she added. (With a report from Wilnard Bacelonia)
