LOCAL Government Secretary Benhur Abalos on Tuesday warned fugitive evangelist Apollo Quiboloy, wanted for child abuse and human trafficking, to surrender before the situation got out of hand.

Quiboloy, the spiritual adviser of former president Rodrigo Duterte, has been in hiding since courts issued warrants of arrest against him in April.

In June, about 100 policemen swooped down on the compound of his Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City but did not find Quiboloy or his co-accused.

On Monday, Abalos said private citizens who were frustrated at Quiboloy's ability to thwart law enforcers offered a P10 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

Abalos said Quiboloy should just present his defense before the proper courts and surrender to the police.

He also accused Quiboloy of following a double standard, refusing to recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court in favor of Philippine courts yet refusing to comply with arrest warrants issued by local judges.

In a press conference at Camp Crame with Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, Abalos said the "reward" was pooled by unnamed "friends" who were frustrated by Quiboloy's continued disregard for the law.

Abalos also announced a reward of P1 million each for the capture of the pastor's five co-accused.

Authorities warned that those coddling Quiboloy might face obstruction of justice charges.

Quiboloy's lawyer, Ferdinand Topasio, said the P10 million reward was wrong "on so many levels."

"Why are there private entities interested in the arrest of Pastor Quiboloy, and why does Abalos refuse to disclose who these persons are? Why are these individuals interfering?" he said.

Usually when a reward for the arrest of a person is put up, it is covered by a memorandum, and the funds for the reward are coursed from intelligence funds or public funds.

"This is strange because, number one, why are there private funds and private persons interested in the capture of Pastor Quiboloy?" Topacio said.

"The enforcement of warrants is purely a governmental function. If there are people interested in the arrest of this certain person who is the subject of a warrant and offers a reward, this raises the question of 'Why?' Who are these people?'" he added.

Topacio also said the award was discriminatory because "there is no such thing as unfettered discretion in a republican and constitutional government such as ours."

"Such a surprisingly disproportionate reward for Pastor Quiboloy creates prejudice in the minds of the people that he is more dangerous than those who commit murders and acts to topple the government. It is at war with the presumption of innocence and endangers the life of a mere accused who has not yet been convicted," he said.

Topacio challenged Abalos to identify the private individuals responsible for the bounty.

"For the sake of transparency and invoking the constitutional right of the people to information regarding matters of public concern, so that we may know the motives and purposes of these private individuals if truly they exist," he said.

Quiboloy and his other co-accused face charges of child and sexual abuse, as well as human trafficking, which were issued by a Pasig and a Davao court.

"This latest assault on the dignity of Pastor Quiboloy is but the latest in a display of wantonness and disregard for the rule of law of this administration," said Topacio.

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