I have no love lost for Apollo Quiboloy. I don't like him as an uber wealthy evangelist. I think he's arrogant, bordering on the insincere. His words sound preachy at best.

And the charges against him? Competent courts should determine his guilt or innocence, which is really more than I can say of all this brouhaha over his capture. Isn't this supposed to be a simple police procedural matter, to be enforced with minimal warm bodies sans the limelight?

With capable authorities, Quiboloy can very easily, and quietly, be arrested and haled to court.

What a massive embarrassment this is, sending the cavalry to find one pastor who probably doesn't even have a bodyguard.

No, let me take that back: what a gargantuan STUPIDITY this has become, with the government's full might ranged against a single, unarmed individual and being UNABLE to find him.

My heart goes out to the hundreds of cops deployed, who had to obey the asinine orders despite what they likely and correctly suspected to be a political act of Malacañang.

For that is what precisely all this drama is about: a desperate attempt at re-introducing a police state by sowing social disorder. And where else can this strongman campaign begin than by attacking the friends and allies of former president Duterte, the administration's enduring nemesis?

When Bongbong Marcos first campaigned for the presidency, I gave him the benefit of the doubt even as I expressed disappointment over society's sanctimoniousness. Jaded activists then called him out for his father's sins, yet chose to go easy on Ferdinand, his IMF debts, his cronies, allowed ALL the Marcoses to re-enter Philippine soil, seek public office, and land on fashion magazines.

Today as all this is happening, my singular thought is: a Marcos will always be a Marcos. Would that we all learn our lesson this time around.