President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made an assurance on Monday that there will be no special treatment in the handling of the criminal case against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

“So, I’m — it is really with some relief that I can say that at least this part, this phase of that operation is now over. And we now leave Mr. Quiboloy to the judiciary, to the judicial system,” President Marcos said during a media interview following his attendance to Philippine Strategic Trade Management Summit 2024 in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

“And siyempre babantayan natin na tama naman ang mangyayari na lahat ng kanyang karapatan, walang nasasagasaan doon sa karapatan niya. Wala namang ibabalewala sa kanyang kahilingan kung anuman ‘yun. But again, there is no special treatment,” he said.

Although Quiboloy is a prominent person, the President said the religious leader will be treated like any other arrested person, and his rights will be respected and protected as he goes through the judicial process.

“If the process will be transparent, everyone who was involved will be accountable. And we will demonstrate, once again to the world, that our judicial system in the Philippines is active, is vibrant, and is working well,” he added.

The President said Quiboloy was forced to surface on Sunday as the police were closing in on his hiding place.

Last April, a Pasig City court ordered the arrest of Quiboloy for qualified human trafficking. The Davao City Regional Trial Court also issued a warrant for his arrest for child and sexual abuse.

Quiboloy is also facing charges in the US for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, and sex trafficking of children. PND