Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 13) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday that it will not issue an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against church leader Apollo Quiboloy just yet unless there is an ongoing investigation.
The DOJ’s statement was in response to the office of Senator Risa Hontiveros urging them to issue an immigration lookout order for Quiboloy, following a resolution she filed seeking to probe sexual abuse and human trafficking allegations against members of the church leader’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
“Right now dahil wala pa po tayong investigation, preliminary investigation, it’s one of the requirements eh, na mag-file for ILBO. Otherwise, it might set a dangerous precedent na kung wala pang investigation, wala pang kaso sa korte, maglalabas na po tayo ng ILBO,” DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano told reporters.
[Translation: Right now, [we won’t issue] because there are no ongoing investigations yet, preliminary investigation, that is the requirement for us to be able to file an ILBO. Otherwise, it might set a dangerous precedent if there are no investigations, because there are no charges yet in our court. We will issue an ILBO if there is.]
“So what the department is trying to do is to err on the cautious side of things na hindi naman tayo, we won’t jump the gun noh,” he added.
[Translation: The department is trying to avoid making mistakes, that’ s why we are cautious, we won’t act prematurely.]
The justice department spokesperson, however, noted that a Senate investigation will be enough for them to issue the lookout order.
“I don’t know if you remember the Pharmally case where ILBOs were issued on the basis of a Senate inquiry or Senate investigation. ‘Yun po siguro mai-justify natin [Maybe that, we can still justify it],” Clavano added.
Quiboloy faces two complaints — one for libel and one for rape, child abuse, and qualified trafficking in persons.
Clavano said both were dismissed at the prosecution level and are pending for review at the DOJ.
Quiboloy’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio told reporters on Tuesday that Hontiveros’ resolution is meant to bully his client.
READ: DOJ urged to issue immigration lookout bulletin order vs Quiboloy
