Former President Rodrigo Duterte may face obstruction of justice charges for allegedly concealing the whereabouts of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy, according to a lawmaker.
House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro raised this issue during the plenary debates for the Department of Justice’s proposed 2025 budget.
She questioned Ako Bicol party-list Representative Raul Angelo Bongalon, who was defending the budget, whether Duterte could be held liable under the law after publicly stating in July that he knew Quiboloy’s location but kept it secret.
In response, Bongalon explained that obstruction of justice has various elements, and if all elements are present, anyone, including Duterte, could be charged.
He added that Duterte’s public admission of knowing Quiboloy’s location but refusing to disclose it due to confidentiality could be grounds for obstruction of justice charges, especially given Duterte’s role as administrator of KOJC properties.
Several lawmakers, including Rep. Bongalon, have called for an investigation into the former president’s potential involvement in hiding Quiboloy, who is wanted by authorities in connection with an arrest warrant.
Former presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, representing Duterte’s camp, previously clarified that Duterte is merely the administrator of KOJC properties and not involved in hiding Quiboloy.
Panelo emphasized that Duterte, as a lawyer, knows it is illegal to harbor a fugitive.