News Roundup 11 December 2022
Dec 11, 2022 • 5 min Read
Solon says US Treasury sanctions should prompt local probe on Quiboloy | INQUIRER.NET – House Deputy Minority leader Rep. France Castro called the sanctions imposed by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy, a “good development,” adding that it should prompt a local probe on the pastor. “This is a good development and we hope that this would serve as a signal to local authorities to also look into the illegal activities of Pastor Quiboloy here. Wala dapat sacred cow dito,” said Castro in a statement. Castro is also the representative of the ACT Teachers party-list in the House of Representatives. She added that the franchise of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) should also be probed as it “serves as a mouthpiece for Quiboloy” who was indicted for sex trafficking in the US. “The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should also reconsider its agreement with SMNI because such a deal with Quiboloy who is engaged in serious human rights abuse, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, as well as other physical abuse should not be tolerated,” said the Castro. “This is good news during Human Rights Day and we hope that other human rights violators would be [held] to account in the coming days,” added Castro. With the sanctions imposed by the OFAC, Quiboloy’s possessions and properties in the US would be blocked and reported to the OFAC. Quiboloy is wanted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the charges of Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion, and Sex Trafficking of Children; Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion; Conspiracy; and Bulk Cash Smuggling.
DOJ holds off on comments regarding Quiboloy’s US sanctions | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Justice is holding off on comments regarding the US Treasury Department’s sanctions over Apollo Quiboloy’s “serious human rights abuse” via a “pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls” and physically abusing members of his religious group. The DOJ said it will first get verified information and “seek US legal experts’ advice” on the sanctions based on the Global Magnitsky Act before commenting. “We would like to express our unity in their cause in the protection of human rights and in the eradication of corrupt practices,” DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano said in a statement on Sunday. “However, the DOJ has yet to discuss the ins and outs of the sanctions on Mr. Quiboloy.” Quiboloy is among the 40 individuals and entities, including those from Belarus, Liberia, the Russian Federation and Iran, the US sanctioned on this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day over their respective violations. In a statement dated December 9, the Treasury Department noted how Quiboloy used religion in trying to justify his actions and orders to members of his religious group, called the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name. “Quiboloy exploited his role within the KOJC to rape his victims and subject them to other physical abuse, describing these acts as sacrifices required by the Bible and by God for the victims’ salvation,” the department said. Quiboloy is also on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Wanted List. over charges of human trafficking. With the sanctions, Quiboloy’s interests and ownership over his properties within US jurisdiction will be blocked and US individuals will also be prohibited from transacting with him.
Metro Manila mayors agree to suspend driver’s license confiscation | PHILSTAR.COM – The 17 mayors of Metro Manila have agreed to suspend the confiscation of driver’s licenses of erring motorists to give way to the creation of the proposed single ticketing system in the region. They agreed to the request of Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos to impose a moratorium on confiscating driver’s licenses in the National Capital Region (NCR) in the meantime. The moratorium will take effect while the NCR’s 17 local government units (LGUs), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) are formulating the guidelines for the interconnectivity program that will be used for the single ticketing system, according to Abalos. “I am asking for help from our colleagues at the MMDA and the new mayors: as we are talking about imposing a moratorium, perhaps, there’s no confiscation of driver’s licenses for the meantime while we are building the interconnectivity program, and they allowed me to do so,” he said in Filipino and English during a press briefing at the MMDA’s new headquarters in Pasig City yesterday. Abalos was the MMDA chairman during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. City and municipal councils in Metro Manila will soon enact ordinances mandating the suspension to confiscate driver’s licenses. Abalos explained that the interconnectivity program would enable Metro Manila LGUs, the MMDA and the LTO to maintain a common database that will register details of erring drivers apprehended anywhere in the region. He noted that the LTO has the sole authority to seize driver’s licenses, despite the authority given to LGUs to enforce their own ordinances pursuant to the Local Government Code. While driver’s licenses will not be confiscated, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief warned motorists that authorities would list the names of apprehended drivers, which would be given to the LTO during the period of the moratorium. Abalos also announced that Metro Manila mayors and the MMDA vowed to make the penalties “lower” once they agree on the price range – which will apply anywhere in Metro Manila – of penalties for certain traffic violations under the single ticketing system. “All penalties of LGUs shall be common. There will be no higher fees, there will be no lower fees; all will be unified. Generally, the penalty will be lower if it’s the one bumped into,” he said, referring to the proposal for common penalties. MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said LGUs enforcing the controversial no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP) – like Quezon City, Manila, Valenzuela, San Juan and Parañaque – also agreed to lower the fines to match with common penalties in the single ticketing system.
