MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte has sued his former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman and now Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos for going after his ally, fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
Abalos, during a press conference on Monday, September 9, said that Duterte has sued him as he pursued alleged trafficker Quiboloy. The doomsday preacher is one of the former president’s closest allies and was arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday, September 8, after a four-month hunt.
The interior chief said he and other officials, including PNP chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil, were sued for the following:
- A civil case in relation to the manhunt against Quiboloy filed at the Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 15
- Domicile, interruption of religious worship, offending religious feelings, and grave threats; and administrative suits (grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority and/or conduct unbecoming of a public officer) filed by Sonia Advincula at the Davao City prosecutor’s office
- Two counts of malicious mischief filed by Duterte at the Davao City prosecutor’s office
As early as August 16, Abalos already mentioned that he was sued for conducting anti-Quiboloy operations. He mentioned this during the House deliberations for the DILG’s 2025 budget, but did not provide specific details like the nature of complaints, where the suits were filed, and who filed them.
Abalos is one of the few Duterte appointees who was also picked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to be in his Cabinet.
As the interior chief, Abalos oversees the PNP that arrested Quiboloy. The DILG chief announced the complaints the same day he and Marbil held a press conference to present arrested Quiboloy and his followers to the public. – Rappler.com