Senator Risa Hontiveros called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday to stop justifying their decision not to revoke fugitive Apollo Quiboloy’s firearms license, especially after the PNP declared that such action is not legally permissible

“Huwag nang magdahilan ang PNP. Kung talagang kasangga namin sila sa pagpapanagot sa mga pambabastos ni Quiboloy sa ating mga institusyon, dapat ginagawa nila ang lahat para mahuli siya. At isang mahalagang paraan ang pagbawi ng mga armas, lalo na ng isang pugante,” Hontiveros said.

The senator clarified that according to the Philippine National Police’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), individuals holding firearms licenses are subject to legal disability or “the loss by the licensee of the legal qualification or capacity to own and possess firearms” if they face a pending criminal case with an imposable penalty of more than 2 years.

“Sa dami at bigat ng pending cases ni Quiboloy, siguro naman pwede nang bawiin ang mga armas niya. Sa kasong human trafficking pa lang, non-bailable at lifetime imprisonment na ang parusa, kaya ano pa hinihintay ng PNP? Nakapagtataka ang bagal,” the senator asked.

The senator also expressed disbelief at the PNP’s admission of being unaware of Quiboloy’s private army. Last week, the senator shared screenshots of social media posts circulating online showing members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in camouflage uniforms and carrying firearms.

“Ang mga netizen alam na na may private army siya, tapos sarili nating kapulisan, hindi alam? Imposible. Di ba dapat mas kapaki-pakinabang ang intel unit niyo? Konting search lang sa social media, lumalabas na yan agad – mga armadong sundalo na nagtetraining at ang mga caption tila may pagbabanta pa sa sinumang lalapit sa poon nila. This is basic information,” Hontiveros said.

“I am again calling on the PNP Chief, PGen. Rommel Marbil, to lead better. Quiboloy is a high profile fugitive who must be apprehended. Baka kaya ang lakas ng loob magtago ni Quiboloy dahil sa mga armas at baril na pumoprotekta sa kanya. Trabahuin na ng PNP ang pagkansela ng mga armas niya. Bilis-bilisan na,” Hontiveros concluded.

📷 Sen. Risa Hontiveros