A PHILIPPINE senator has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel the passport of wanted televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy for failing to appear before Congress or local courts to face sex-trafficking allegations.
“Instead of showing up to the Senate or the court, he records audio messages that insult the capacity of the government to track him down,” Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel said in a statement in Filipino released on Monday. “This is appalling. This should not be allowed to pass, but only challenge government more to exhaust all means to exhaust his movements.”
Last week, the Department of Justice said it asked the Supreme Court to transfer the criminal cases against the televangelist in Davao City to Pasig City.
Justice Spokesperson Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV earlier said that Mr. Quiboloy, who faces child, sexual abuse and qualified human trafficking charges, is still in the country.
The preacher is wanted in the United States for the same allegations.
The Senate earlier issued an arrest order against him for failing to appear before a committee looking into these allegations.
“The world is closing in on him. He is accused of crimes that transcend continents and nationalities,” Ms. Hontiveros-Baraquel said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez