The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) appealed to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) members to “wake up” to the gravity of the child exploitation charges that their leader, Apollo Quiboloy, faces.
DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. alleged that Quiboloy would groom his church members’ children, priming them for sexual activities.
“Walang puwang ‘yun sa isang civil na society. sa isang komunidad, walang puwang ‘yung ganyan,” the interior secretary argued. “Dahil pinagkakatiwalaan mo ‘yung faith mo, pinagkakatiwala mo ‘yung paniniwala mo, ‘yung pamilya mo, ‘yung anak mo. tapos gaganunin ‘yung bata?”
(That has no place in a civil society; in a community, a crime like that has no place. Because you entrust your faith, your beliefs, your family, your offspring to him, and then he’d do that to the child?)
He urged the pastor’s devotees to hear out victims who have called for justice, should their testimonies prove true.
“Sana magising po tayong lahat sa mga nangyayari. Talagang aktwal ito, huwag tayong magalit sa mga nagdedemanda. Pakinggan din natin sila, tingnan nating maigi. ‘Yung iba kasi bina-bash kaagad eh,” Abalos said.
(I wish we would all wake up to the things happening. This is reality, let’s not get angry at those seeking justice. Let’s listen to them too, inspect the matter closely. Some people just take to bashing them immediately.)
“Pakinggan niyo dahil kung totoo man—dahil may proseso naman tayo rito—kung totoo man, napakasakit nito,” he added.
(You should listen because if the claims are true—because we have processes to determine that here—if they are true, this is excruciating for the victims.)
Abalos went on to say that no one should have to go through exploitation, especially a child who cannot defend themself.
To accusations of having planted evidence against the preacher, he responded that the Philippine National Police (PNP) had merely recorded the accounts of victims under oath.
“For whatever it is, ito’y mga salaysay ng mga tao, gusto nila sabihin (this is the narrative of the people, they want to say it),” the secretary asserted.
He also reasoned that his department was only fulfilling its duty, and it is the judge who will determine who is in the right. Additionally, he exhorted citizens, especially parents, to expose such crimes.
“Let’s end this. Pangit sa isang bansang maturingang epicenter of online sexual child abuse. Hindi magandang pakinggan ‘yun. Labag po ‘yun sa diwa ng pagiging Pilipino. Hindi tayo ganoon,” he concluded.
(It is terrible for a country to be considered the epicenter of online sexual child abuse. It’s not good to hear. It’s against the spirit of the Filipino. We’re not like that.)
