Quiboloy’s gun permit revocation may be approved this week —PNP

The decision on the recommendation to revoke the gun permits of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy will be issued this week, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

“I don't want to preempt po yung magiging decision ng PNP, but ang Chief PNP po natin ay pag-aaralan po ito. May mga legal officers po ang PNP,” said PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

(I don't want to preempt the decision of the PNP, but our Chief PNP will study it. The PNP has legal officers.)

“Malinaw naman po na may basehan po itong recommendation ng FEO (Firearms and Explosives Office) but hintayin po natin yung pormal na pagpirma po ng ating Chief PNP. And hopefully, within the week po ay lalabas po nyung approve decision po ng ating Chief PNP,” she added.

(It is clear that there is a basis for this recommendation of the FEO, but let's wait for the formal signature of our Chief PNP. And hopefully, within the week, the approved decision of our Chief PNP will come out.)

According to Fajardo, the FEO cited Section 4 (g) of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act as among the grounds for the revocation

Under the Standards and Requisites for Issuance of and Obtaining a License to Own and Possess Firearms of the Law, “The applicant has not been convicted or is currently an accused in a pending criminal case before any court of law for a crime that is punishable with a penalty of more than two years.”

Aside from this, Fajardo added that legal disability for gun ownership also includes “pendency of a criminal case with imposable penalty of two years.”

Quiboloy has 19 firearms and the license of one of them already expired in March, while Canada only has one firearm, according to Fajardo.

The Senate issued an arrest order against Quiboloy for "unduly refusing to appear, despite due notices," at hearings on his alleged involvement in the sexual abuse of his members and human trafficking issues.

A Davao court also issued a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy and five others over charges of child abuse.

Four of the co-accused turned themselves in, while another, Cresente Canada, was arrested by NBI agents. All five have posted bail, while Quiboloy remains at large.

An arrest warrant was also issued by a Pasig court for Quiboloy for human trafficking charges.

In the United States, Central District of California Judge Terry Hatter Jr. on March 7 ordered the unsealing of the arrest warrants against Quiboloy and his co-accused.

The unsealing was requested by the United States Attorney Criminal Division handling Quiboloy's case, which involves charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and cash smuggling.

"Upon application of the government, and for good cause shown, the arrest warrants and returns in this case are unsealed," Hatter said in his order dated March 1, 2024.

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. earlier said the proceedings against Quiboloy would be fair, adding that the latter should not worry about the United States meddling in his cases.

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader has denied the accusations against him. —VAL, GMA Integrated News