EVEN his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio does not have any information on the whereabouts of his client, televangelist Apollo Quiboloy who is now considered a fugitive following his disappearrance since the release of warrants for his arrest over charges of human trafficking and child sexual abuse.
On ANC’s “Headstart” Topacio said: “I have no information with respect to that, all I can do right now is continue to represent his rights and interest under our Constitution and under our statutes to the best of my ability as I have sworn to do as officer of the court.”
Topacio said the last time he saw the Kingdom Of Jesus Christ leader in person was prior to the release of the warrants against him.
Topacio said that the government, having all the facility and machinery to monitor the whereabouts of any person, is more capable of pinning down any fugitive than him.
“If there’s any person who would know the whereabouts of Pastor Quiboloy it would not be I but the proper branches of government,” he said.
Bounty too much
Topacio also particularly questioned the Department of Interior and Local Government not for putting a reward for Quiboloy and his co-accused but the enormity of the amount as well as the manner that the bounty was raised, applied and offered.
He said the P10 million bounty was too much. He challenged Abalos to disclose fund source.
The DILG raised 10 million pesos for information leading to the arrest of Quiboloy and a million each for his fellow accused Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada, Sylvia Cemañes and Jackielyn Roy.
The lawyer said raising such an amount is “wrong on so many levels.”
According to Topacio, who was also with the DILG during the time of former President Joseph Estrada, putting up rewards for the arrest of any person is covered by a memorandum and funds for such bounties are sourced from intelligence funds which means public funds.
“And in this case as admitted by Secretary Abalos, the reward of the bounty being offered comes from private persons and what is even more strange is that he refuses to disclose who these persons are,” he said.
“This is strange because number one, why are there private funds and private persons interested in the capture of Pastor Quiboloy. The enforcement of warrants is a purely governmental function,” he said.
“If there are people interested in the arrest of a certain person, subject of a warrant, offering rewards then it raises the question as to why, who are these persons?” He said.
Topacio stressed that if a government official is to accept private funds for such purpose then the source must be disclosed by virtue of transparency under the constitution.
Quiboloy’s legal counsel questions why private individuals are willing to raise the bounty to such an amount just for the capture of Quiboloy.
He then challenged the DILG secretary to explain the full nature of the bounty.
“I challenge Secretary Abalos to disclose who these people are so we will know what their motivation is in causing the arrest of Pastor Quiboloy over and above other people who are charged with equally grave offenses or even graver offenses,” he said.
