CA freezes Duterte friend’s assets

THE COURT of Appeals (CA) has issued a 20-day freeze order on the assets of televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy and his nine cohorts.

The appellate court’s Special Third Division issued a 48-page order on Aug. 6 his assets including his church Kingdom of Jesus Christ and Sonshine Media Network, Inc.

The freeze order, which the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) requested, also covered the religious leader’s 10 bank accounts, seven properties, five vehicles and an aircraft.

It also covered the church’s 47 bank accounts, 16 properties and 16 vehicles. The 17 bank accounts, five properties and 26 vehicles of Swara Sug Media Corp., which owns Sonshine, were also frozen.

The appellate court said it found reasonable grounds to believe that the bank accounts of Mr. Quiboloy, a friend of ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte, were linked to illegal activities and crimes.

“In order to avoid the possibility of the funds in the subject bank accounts and/or properties from being withdrawn, removed, transferred, concealed or placed beyond the reach of law enforcers, this court finds it appropriate and judicious to issue a 20-day freeze order,” Associate Justice Gabriel T. Robeniol said in the order.

Mr. Quiboloy’s lawyer Ferdinand S. Topacio told ����ý in a Viber message the order was “�첹���dzٱ�” (nonsense). He did not elaborate.

His other lawyer, Israelito P. Torreon, told ����ý in a Viber message they could not comment on the issue yet.

“I cannot really give any comment about the alleged order simply because of the fact that we do not know anything about it,” he said. “We did not receive a prior petition as a prelude to the issuance of the order, nor did we receive a copy of the supposed order.”

The pastor faces a child abuse case before a Quezon City trial court. He was also charged with human trafficking before a Pasig City court.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has offered a P10-million bounty for information that could lead to his arrest.

“We thank the AMLC for their action,” Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel said in an e-mailed statement. “This is the second freezing of bank accounts after the ones in the US.”

“Hopefully, this freezes Quiboloy’s ability to escape,” the lawmaker, who led a Senate probe of the religious leader’s dealings, said. “Hopefully also, our local entities can work with their foreign counterparts to stanch the flow of money to offshore accounts.” — Chloe Mari A. Hufana