EDITORIAL: Elusive Justice

THE recent budget hearing for the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has once again cast a glaring spotlight on the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) inability to arrest high-profile individuals like Apollo Quiboloy and suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.

The frustration voiced by Kabataan Representative Raoul Manuel underscores a growing public concern: why does justice appear so elusive when it involves the powerful?

Quiboloy’s continued evasion of the law is not just a national embarrassment—it is a painful reminder of the inequities within our justice system. Here is a man who claims to be “the appointed son of God,” yet his actions, as alleged by courts and even the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, paint a much darker picture.

Accused of qualified trafficking, child abuse, sexual abuse, and more, Quiboloy has been on the run, hiding behind the walls of his religious empire while the victims of these heinous crimes await justice.

The offer of a P10-million reward by the DILG is a desperate, albeit commendable, move. However, it raises more questions than answers. If our law enforcement agencies are truly doing their best, as claimed by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., why is it that Quiboloy, with all the attention and resources supposedly dedicated to his capture, remains free?

Rep. Manuel rightly pointed out the troubling inconsistency in the PNP’s performance. The same police force that can quickly arrest ordinary citizens, often under questionable circumstances, appears powerless against the influential.

The allegations of Red-tagging, which have been proven to be a real threat to people’s lives and security, further erode public trust in the PNP’s commitment to justice. The Supreme Court’s recognition of Red-tagging as a danger to civil liberties makes the PNP’s denial of a policy supporting it ring hollow.

Meanwhile, the case of Mayor Alice Guo is another example of how the rich and powerful can seemingly sidestep accountability. Her refusal to comply with lawful investigations and her continued evasion of arrest show a blatant disregard for the rule of law.

If those in positions of authority can so easily defy the very laws they are sworn to uphold, what message does this send to the public?

The PNP’s struggle to arrest Quiboloy and Guo exposes a fundamental weakness in our system: the inability to hold the powerful accountable. Justice must be blind, but in the Philippines, it seems that it often turns a blind eye to those with influence.

If the PNP is serious about restoring public confidence, it must demonstrate that no one is above the law, no matter how high their status or how deep their connections.

The pursuit of justice in these cases must be relentless. The government cannot allow the wealthy and powerful to continue to mock our laws. The victims of Quiboloy’s alleged crimes and the constituents of Bamban deserve nothing less than the full measure of justice.

It is time for the PNP to prove that it can indeed “get it together” and fulfill its mandate to serve and protect all Filipinos, regardless of status.