US court reschedules trial of Apollo Quiboloy, others

NEW YORK — A United States court has set a new date for the trial for the criminal cases of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to November 5, 2024.

The proceedings were supposed to begin on March 19, 2024, for charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, coercion, and sex trafficking of children, marriage fraud, fraud and misuse of visas, bulk cash smuggling, promotional money laundering, and international promotional money laundering. 

However, the US District Court for the Central District of California granted the request of Quiboloy's camp for additional time to allow them to thoroughly study the charges so that their legal team can effectively respond to them.

The court, in allowing the rescheduling, acknowledged the "unusual and complex nature" of the case.

"Failure to grant the continuance would likely make a continuation of the proceeding impossible or result in a miscarriage of justice," the court said based on documents obtained by GMA Integrated News.

"The case is so unusual and complex, due to the nature of the prosecution and the number of defendants, that it is unreasonable to expect preparation for pre-trial proceedings or for the trial itself within the time established by the Speedy Trial Act, it added. 

"Failure to grant the continuance would deny all counsel for the defendant the reasonable time necessary for effective preparation, taking into account the exercise of due diligence."

Quiboloy and his associates, Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag, both officials of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, remain on the wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Quiboloy's camp has dismissed the charges as "grandstanding by the US government."

In the Philippines, a resolution has been filed in the Senate seeking to look into the alleged cases of large-scale human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence, and child abuse of KOJC. 

"Apollo Quiboloy, who styles himself as the ‘Appointed Son of God and the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ The Name Above Every Name (KOJC)’, allegedly demands strict obedience from his full-time followers through brainwashing, psychological manipulation and constant threats of eternal damnation," said Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, who filed the proposed Senate Resolution 884.

Quiboloy's lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, has dismissed the allegations raised by Hontiveros as mere "deception."

Topacio dared Hontiveros to bring the allegations of exploitation, child abuse, and sexual harassment to the proper courts and not in the Senate.

He cited several Supreme Court ruling which he said decided that the Senate is not a court, a prosecutorial body, nor an investigative body.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News