MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. on Wednesday called on fugitive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to come out of hiding and face the court to address the allegations against him.
鈥淜ung talagang wala siyang kasalanan, harapin niya 鈥榯o at huwag siyang matakot dito,鈥� Abalos said in a chance interview in General Trias, Cavite.
(If he is truly innocent, let him face it; don鈥檛 be afraid of it.)
鈥淧ara matapos na lahat, let鈥檚 face the court, Pastor Quiboloy,鈥� he added.
(To put an end to everything, let鈥檚 face the court, Pastor Quiboloy.)
According to Abalos, it is now high time for Quiboloy to defend himself in court and explain his version of what happened.
鈥淣ow it鈥檚 time to tell the people your version of what really happened and let the Philippine legal system take its course,鈥� he said.
He then appealed to members of the Quiboloy-led Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) to remain calm and be 鈥渞espectful.鈥�
鈥淚to lang po ang aking pakiusap. Alam kong may kanya-kanya po tayong paniniwala. But, you know, let鈥檚 give this respect to one another. Ito lang po ang sa akin. Sana mas umiral na maging mahinahon po ang lahat,鈥� he said.
(This is my only request. I know we have our own beliefs. But, you know, let鈥檚 give this respect to one another. I wish there would be more peace for everyone.)
READ: DILG to clarify Quiboloy court protection order; hunt continues
聽Quiboloy still in KJC compound?
Meanwhile, Abalos also revealed that there are 鈥渟trong indications鈥� that Quiboloy is still within the KJC compound.
鈥淲ithout compromising yung operations ng pulis, malakas ang indications na nandun,鈥� said Abalos.
(Without compromising police operations, the indications that Quiboloy is in the compound are strong.)
鈥淚n fact, marami na kaming tao at mga makina doon that we鈥檙e using para mahanap niya both above ground and underground. Lahat po ito, ginagawa po ito,鈥� he added.
(In fact, we have many people and machines we鈥檙e using to find him both above ground and underground. We鈥檙e doing all these things.)
Quiboloy is facing child abuse cases before a Davao City court, as well as a standing arrest warrant for human trafficking issued by a Pasig City court.
Refusing to answer the cases, Quiboloy remains in hiding, with the Davao Police Regional Office saying he is believed to be hiding inside the KJC compound in Davao City.