Justice Sec. Jesus Crispin Remulla 鈥擯hoto from DOJ鈥檚 Facebook page/Boying Remulla
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday called on abuse victims, their families, and members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) to come forward, after the Philippine National Police rescued over the weekend suspected trafficking victims from the sect鈥檚 compound.
Officers of the PNP鈥檚 Davao regional office have gathered outside the KJC compound since Saturday in another attempt to arrest the sect鈥檚 leader, fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy.
According to them, the suspected trafficking victims they rescued were a 21-year-old man from Samar province and a woman of unspecified age from Midsayap town, Cotabato province.
READ: Alleged human trafficking victims rescued from KJC Compound
In a statement, Remulla commended the PNP for the rescue and assured the victims and their families of their safety on the watch of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The suspected trafficking victims are currently being evaluated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Remulla called for 鈥渟tronger collaboration鈥� between the DOJ, PNP, DSWD and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking 鈥渢o ensure airtight cases against the鈥� human trafficking menace.鈥�
Pastor鈥檚 cases
The televangelist and five of his associates are facing charges of violation of Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, now being heard by a Quezon City court.
They also face a nonbailable qualified human trafficking charge before a Pasig City court, which reissued an arrest warrant against Quiboloy on Aug. 20 after the earlier warrant could not be served since the fugitive could not be found.
In the United States, Quiboloy is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 鈥渃onspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion,鈥� 鈥渟ex trafficking of children,鈥� 鈥渃onspiracy,鈥� and 鈥渂ulk cash smuggling,鈥� among other charges.
VP鈥檚 鈥榮ympathies鈥�
On Monday, the DSWD cautioned public officials against playing down 鈥渉orrific acts鈥� against trafficking victims.
鈥淚t is particularly painful when public figures, who should be champions of justice and defenders of the vulnerable, seem to downplay these horrific acts or align themselves with those accused of such egregious crimes,鈥� the agency said.
鈥淲e must never forget that behind every case are real children, real mothers, and real families who are suffering,鈥� the DSWD said.
For her part, House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin expressed concern over Vice President Sara Duterte鈥檚 apparent choice to side with Quiboloy instead of the women and children whom the pastor allegedly preyed on.
鈥淲hile Vice President Duterte expresses concern over the police鈥檚 implementation of lawful warrants, I find it troubling that her sympathies appear to lie more with a powerful figure wanted for serious crimes rather than with the vulnerable women and minors who have suffered at the hands of an accused predator,鈥� the Iloilo representative said in a statement. 鈥攔eports from Jane Bautista, Jeannette I. Andrade, Dempsey Reyes and Inquirer Research