THE PHILIPPINE National Police is studying whether or not former President Rodrigo Duterte is liable for obstruction of justice.
This, after he said in a press conference at Tacloban City on Sunday that he knew the whereabouts of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy but added that it was a secret.
According to PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, the PNP would need to talk to Duterte regarding his remarks.
“A person who knows the whereabouts of a wanted person may be held liable for obstruction of justice. But, then again, the PNP’s lawyers will first study if those statements constitute obstruction of justice or just simple words taken out of context,” said Fajardo in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at Camp Crame.
She also said the PNP aims to get the full context of the statement from the former president.
“The video alone constitutes hearsay. We need to speak with him directly. We need to understand who he was talking to at the time, and whether his statements were intended as a tease, a joke, or something else,” she added.
The PNP urged those who knew the whereabouts of Quiboloy to cooperate with them to bring the pastor to the courts and face the charges against him.
“We are reminding and warning them that they may face the appropriate charges. Let us remember that the accused is facing heavy charges and are now being treated as fugitives,” she further said.
Last Sunday, Former President Duterte revealed that he knows the whereabouts of his friend, Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted on charges of sexual and child abuse, as well as human trafficking.
However, Duterte refused to disclose the location, stating it was a “secret.”
“If the question is, ‘Where is the pastor?’ I know where, but it’s a secret,” Duterte, who is currently managing Quiboloy’s properties, made the statement during a press conference in Tacloban City.
He also confirmed that Quiboloy has no intention of surrendering to authorities. “He does not want to surrender. So, don’t surrender,” he added.
The statement comes amid ongoing efforts by the Police Regional Office XI to locate and apprehend Quiboloy, according to spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey.
Despite standing arrest warrants, Quiboloy has publicly vowed to resist arrest, citing American pressure on the Marcos administration to persecute him.
Duterte’s association with Quiboloy, who served as his spiritual adviser during his presidency, has been a subject of scrutiny.
In a recent social media video, Duterte acknowledged their close friendship but denied harboring the fugitive religious leader.
The KOJC announced Duterte’s appointment as administrator of Quiboloy’s properties following a police raid on the compound. Both Duterte and the KOJC condemned the operation, claiming excessive force and property damage.
File Photo: Bing Gonzales
