AN army of policemen earlier stormed the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City to rescue a mother and a child who were victims of human trafficking of suspected pedophile and rapist pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Tensions rose when Quiboloy’s ‘cult fanatics’ formed a human barricade to shield their self-appointed son of God leader.
There’s, however, a much more powerful human barricade shielding Quiboloy – composed of no less than the very leaders of this nation.
Former President Digong Duterte appears to be aiding and abetting Quiboloy by refusing to reveal his whereabouts.
While Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte expressed solidarity with Quiboloy and Vice President Sara Duterte who claimed the police operations to be politically motivated, while Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa promised a Senate inquiry that would look into the alleged gross abuse of police power.
Quiboloy has been in hiding as he’s charged with multiple criminal offenses, including human trafficking and sexual abuse, whose victims include minors as young as 11.
Several arrest warrants have already been issued by Philippine courts and the Senate. On top of that, Quiboloy has been in the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most-wanted list for two years and counting.
Efforts to shift the narrative from the heroic rescue of the trafficking victims within Quiboloy’s compound to the PNP’s alleged abuse of power is merely an attempt to dehumanize the incident and distract everyone from the root of all evils.
The truth of the matter is that a mother and child were rescued from the terrors of a ‘pedophile and rapist’ and are now to be reunited with their families.
This is both a story of hope for the other victims of Quiboloy who have yet to be rescued and a cautionary tale for the Dutertes.
No matter where the root of the Dutertes’ loyalty to Quiboloy lies – may it be ‘utang na loob’ due to the latter’s expensive gifts and electoral endorsements or his being a spiritual adviser.
Anyone who defends and protects an alleged pedophile and rapist are accomplices to the same heinous crimes and must be held accountable.
If the Duterte human barricade is not dismantled, Quiboloy could continue to run and hide like a thief in the night.
