A human rights organization has criticized the preferential treatment allegedly afforded to detained senatorial candidate Apollo Quiboloy, following the broadcast of his pre-recorded campaign message at the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) proclamation rally on February 11.
Quiboloy, who faces serious charges including human trafficking and child abuse, was granted court approval to record the video message. The Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) denounced this action as a blatant example of double standards in the treatment of detainees.
“Why was Quiboloy allowed to record a campaign video while others are subjected to strict jail rules?” questioned SELDA vice chairman Danilo dela Fuente in an official statement.
Dela Fuente further criticized the disparity in treatment between affluent, influential detainees like Quiboloy and less privileged inmates, including political prisoners. He highlighted the stringent regulations imposed on impoverished detainees, contrasting them with the leniency shown to powerful individuals.
In 2015, political prisoners at the Metro Manila District Jail 4 in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, had their visitation rights revoked after they penned a letter to Pope Francis detailing the substandard conditions within the facility. Dela Fuente pointed out that, in contrast, high-profile detainees such as Quiboloy and convicted former general Jovito Palparan have been permitted to conduct media interviews while incarcerated.
Responding to the allegations, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesman Superintendent Jayrex Bustinera clarified that Quiboloy’s video was recorded legally, per a court order. “Yes, the BJMP prohibits unauthorized recording and use of cameras in jails. But the recording of a video message by Quiboloy was allowed by the court. The BJMP is obliged to comply with this order,” Bustinera stated.
He also noted that the recording took place at the Pasig City General Hospital, where Quiboloy was admitted on January 23 for community-acquired pneumonia and hypertension, rather than within the detention facility itself. Quiboloy was discharged from the hospital and returned to the Pasig City Jail on February 15.
Quiboloy’s legal counsel, Israelito Torreon, defended the court’s decision, asserting that his client retains his civil and political rights as a candidate. Torreon emphasized that, despite the charges against him, Quiboloy is entitled to participate in the electoral process, including the dissemination of campaign materials.
The incident has sparked a broader debate about the equitable treatment of detainees within the Philippine justice system, with human rights advocates calling for the consistent application of rules and regulations, regardless of an individual’s social or political standing.