IT is extremely dangerous if the government does not name the friends or donors mentioned by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos who allegedly donated a reward against Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.
This is what the legal counsel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Atty. Israelito Torreon, pointed out during the KOJC press conference on Thursday.
“It is very dangerous on the part of the officers to not name your sources of funds. Because here— maybe these are foreign sources or maybe from America? Or from other sources from the Left or from people who need something from Sec. Abalos? To be elected as senator, perhaps?” according to Atty. Israelito Torreon, KOJC Legal Counsel.
KOJC legal counsels and other lawyers have repeatedly stated that accepting private donations is against Republic Act 6713.
But aside from this, Torreon also said that Abalos’s actions violate Republic Act 3019 or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.”
“We researched jurisprudence, and it is connected to RA 3019 Sec. 3-C. Getting funds from private sources is prohibited because of public trust,” Atty. Torreon added.
Atty. Harry Roque, a former Malacañang spokesperson, also pointed out that the acceptance of donations by the DILG from private individuals can be considered ‘graft’.
“So, to me, that is common sense. Even without a special law mentioned by Atty. Torreon, no one gives without a motive. There is a motive. They are trying to gain favor from the government. Why would you allow it? You know they will ask for a favor in the future. So, to me, that is graft, the acceptance of money for rewards because it is not free. They are giving a large amount because they want the government to owe them something through the person who will receive the donation,” Atty. Harry Roque, Former Presidential Spokesperson stated.
Impeachment case vs. Marcos Jr., possible—KOJC Legal Counsel
Torreon stressed the public’s right question the government’s actions, citing Republic Act 6713 to promote the saying ‘public office is a public trust’.
Torreon also pointed the possibility of an impeachment case against Marcos Jr.
“It maybe a ground of an impeachment. Why? Because this may constitute betrayal of public trust. Why it may be true in the certain cases? The Supreme Court said, this is ‘catch-all provision.’ But if we can prove that there is really clear bad faith on the part of the President such as June 10, 2024 incident, and the fact that warrants of arrest were already served five times and the sheer force, or the volume of force that was exhibited was really a clear violation of Rule 113 Sec 2 — would be perhaps a ground of a possible impeachment case. Of course, this may not succeed now, but it may succeed later,” Atty. Torreon, added.
He also said that based on Section 40 of Executive Order 292, the Oath of Office commands the official to follow the law.
To recall, the KOJC legal counsel filed a motion for reconsideration in March 2024 to transfer Pastor Apollo’s cases from the Davao Regional Trial Court to the Quezon City RTC.
But instead of acting on it, it was resolved late, which according to Torreon, violates Pastor Apollo’s right to a speedy trial.
“So, where’s the law? Instead of acting on our motion for reconsideration, they used excessive force in enforcing the warrant of arrest.”
“If Pastor Quiboloy can really prove that there is grave abuse of discretion because there is no crime in the first place. Then he can be set free. So that is the issue that we are fighting for until this day,” Torreon added.
Atty. Torreon to BBM: Instead of getting angry, you should listen to KOJC’s side
Therefore, Torreon said that instead of getting angry while they are fighting for Pastor Apollo and the co-accused’s rights, President Marcos Jr. should also listen to their side.
“Because in the first place, we trusted you. Mr. President. We trusted you, Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy trusted you. We elected you into office and you are supposed to perform your role as the foremost executive official of the land and you should have implemented the laws that I have just cited,” he said.
