Cendaña to Quiboloy camp: Better libelous than sex trafficker

Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña has made it clear that he would rather be labeled libelous than be described as a sex trafficker, in an apparent swipe at jailed televangelist Apollo Quiboloy whose camp had threatened to sue him and other lawmakers for cyber libel. In a statement on Wednesday, Cendaña said that Quiboloy plans to file cyber libel complaints against him for claiming that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder was a child molester and human trafficker. Aside from him, Cendaña said Quiboloy’s camp supposedly wants to include Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima among the respondents for the planned cyber libel and libel raps. “I received news that the camp of Apollo Quiboloy is mulling the filing of libel raps against me, Sen. Risa, and Rep. Leila. I’d rather be libelous than be a sex trafficker. Thank God, I’m not any of them,” Cendaña said. “I just want to clarify that Quiboloy has threatened to sue me for libel because I believed the statements of victims that he is a child molester, pedophile, and human trafficker. He really has to be extradited towards the US (United States) so that he can face the cases against him,” he added. On Wednesday, Quiboloy’s legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio announced that they will be filing libel and cyber libel charges against the three lawmakers before the Pasig City prosecutor’s office. But Cendaña believes Quiboloy and his team should focus their energy towards facing his alleged victims before a US court. Early August, the US State Department sent through the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs a letter seeking Quiboloy’s extradition, so that he could face charges stemming from a 2021 indictment in California, due to sex trafficking of minors, visa fraud and bulk cash smuggling. “If they are serious in their threat to charge me, Sen. Risa, and Rep. Leila, it does not come close to the fear and violence inflicted upon his victims and their families,” Cendaña said. “My advice to Quiboloy is for him to devote his time and energy to face his victims in a US court. His time to face justice is nearing. I hope Quiboloy even has a tinge of regret for the brutality and evil he did,” he added. The Department of Justice is still evaluating the extradition request, as Quiboloy also faces cases before the Philippine courts — a qualified human trafficking case before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) and sexual abuse and maltreatment before the Quezon City RTC. After the extradition request, Hontiveros said she was relieved that both Philippine and US authorities are seeking to hold Quiboloy accountable for his alleged crimes. Hontiveros, chair of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, led the investigation into Quiboloy and his alleged involvement in large-scale human trafficking, sexual abuse of minors, forced labor and rights violations. De Lima, meanwhile, said she hopes Quiboloy’s extradition “proceeds without delay” as victims of gruesome crimes have been waiting for justice. /das