News Roundup 04 March 2024
Mar 04, 2024 • 4 min Read
Quiboloy to face trafficking, child abuse raps — DOJ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Monday that it had recommended the filing of charges of child abuse and human trafficking against doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy.
This comes after the Justice department granted the petition for review on Quiboloy’s case, which was previously dismissed by the Office of the City Prosecutor of Davao City in 2020, leading to the reversal of the dismissal, according to DOJ chief Jesus Crispin Remulla.
“Ang kasong ito ay dumating sa department ngayong taong ito. Four yers na itong nakabinbin dito, yung isa’t kalahating taon na nasa ilalim namin. Kaya binantayan namin nang husto at lumalabas talaga rito ay meron talagang kailangan panagutan si Pastor Apollo Quibiloy at ang kanyang mga kasama,” Remulla said in a press briefing with reporters.
(This case arrived at the department earlier this year. It has been pending here for four years, with one and a half years under our jurisdiction. That’s why we closely monitored it, and it appears that Pastor Apollo Quibiloy and his associates really need to be held accountable for something here.)
In granting the petition for review, the DOJ said that it ordered the Office of the City Prosecutor of Davao City to file the case for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law, which mentions a provision of sexual abuse of a minor.
The case of qualified human trafficking, meanwhile, will be filed in a Pasig City court, according to Remulla.
Full Story at: Quiboloy to face trafficking, child abuse raps — DOJ | Philstar.com
PCG sends vessel to Philippine Rise after reports of Chinese vessels ‘loitering’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — An offshore patrol vessel by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has been deployed to the Philippine Rise on Monday in response to reported sightings of Chinese research vessels in the area.
Formerly identified as Benham Rise, the Philippine Rise is an underwater plateau situated along the northeastern seaboard of the country, which is believed to be rich in oil, gas and marine resources.
In a statement, the PCG said the BRP Gabriela Silang is set for a two-week mission in the Philippine Rise and Batanes starting March 4.
“We will also check the reported Chinese research vessels in Benham Rise,” the PCG said, quoting Coast Guard Rear Adm. Armando Balilo.
He also said that the coast guard vessel will patrol nearby waters to enhance maritime domain awareness and monitor local fishermen, indicating an increased PCG presence in northern Luzon.
Full Story at: PCG sends vessel to Philippine Rise after reports of Chinese vessels ‘loitering’ | Philstar.com
Romualdez vows: PH won’t compromise territorial integrity | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government will not compromise its territorial integrity in the face of Chinese vessels loitering inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and other lawmakers said on Monday.
In a statement, Romualdez stressed that the Philippine Rise, also known as the Benham Rise, is undoubtedly within Philippine territory being on the eastern side of the Luzon mainland.
“The Philippines will not compromise its territorial integrity or allow any encroachment upon its sovereign rights. Philippine Rise is unquestionably within our EEZ, and we will assert our authority to safeguard our maritime domain,” Romualdez said.
“The Philippines will not back down or yield an inch of its territory. We will continue to assert our rights over the Philippine Rise and any other maritime areas that belong to us under international law,” he pointed out.
Romualdez said this after two Chinese research vessels were seen at the Philippine Rise — a resource-rich underwater plateau east of Cagayan Valley and Southern Luzon last Friday.
Full Story at: Romualdez vows: PH won’t compromise territorial integrity (inquirer.net)
Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order issued vs Quiboloy | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said he had already signed an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) Leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
“Napirmahan ko na ‘yun. Iyun ang mauuna sa lahat. [I already signed it. It will come first],” Remulla said in a press conference.
An ILBO may not prevent Quiboloy from leaving the country as it is for monitoring purposes only and is not a sufficient prohibition to bar someone from leaving the country.
Only the courts can issue a hold departure order.
Remulla said that once the cases are filed in court, they will ask that a hold departure order be issued against the self-declared son of God.
Full Story at: Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order issued vs Quiboloy | Inquirer News
