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DOJ: Quiboloy to face qualified trafficking, child abuse raps
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday announced that qualified human trafficking and child abuse cases will be filed against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy.
In a press conference, Remulla said the Department of Justice (DOJ) has granted a petition of review, directing the Office of the City Prosecutor of Davao City to file a case against Quiboloy for sexual abuse of a minor in 2011, in violation of Republic Act 7610 or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.”
Meanwhile, the qualified trafficking case will be filed in a Pasig City court.
“Pinag-aralan namin nang husto at ang lumalabas talaga rito, meron talagang kailangang panagutan si Pastor Apollo Quiboloy at ang kanyang mga kasama, sa isang complainant, sa isang nagrereklamo nung panahon na ‘yun ay may edad na 17 anyos nung nangyari ang krimen,” Remulla said.
(We have studied this and it revealed that Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his companions really need to be held accountable to a complainant who was 17 years old when the crime happened.)
Remulla said he will ask the Supreme Court to transfer the case from Davao to Manila once it has been filed.
Quiboloy hails from Davao City and is a close ally of the Duterte family.
“Dahil nga may problema sa Davao at maraming po roon pananakot na nagaganap at maraming po nagkaalinlangan, ay minabuti namin at talagang nakaplano na na hingin sa Korte Suprema na ilipat ang venue ng kaso ito dito sa Manila at mag-appoint na lang na special panel of prosecutors,” Remulla added.
(Due to problems in Davao and the possibility of intimidation and people having second thoughts, we decided to ask the Supreme Court to move the venue of this case to Manila and to appoint a special panel of prosecutors.)
The Justice chief said that he has also signed a precautionary hold departure order against Quiboloy, directing the Bureau of Immigration to prevent him from departing from the Philippines.
As to the spiritual leader’s accusation that the United States government is allegedly being helped by Philippine government officials to "eliminate" him, Remulla said that the DOJ has not yet received any complaints on the matter.
The Justice chief said that he has also signed a precautionary hold departure order against Quiboloy.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have issued subpoenas for Quiboloy after he skipped separate hearings on the alleged abuses being linked to KOJC as well as calls to revoke the franchise of Swara Sug Media Corporation, the legal operating name of Sonshine Media Network International, the broadcast media arm of KOJC.
Quiboloy, who denied the accusations against him, earlier said he would only face the courts.
Supporters of Quiboloy on Monday afternoon trooped to Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila City to show support and hold a prayer rally for the religious leader.
“Freedom of assembly ‘yan. Wala tayong magagawa diyan. Exercise of religious freedom, isa pa ‘yan… Kung kailangan pong bantayan sila at paprotektahan, gawin natin para walang mangyaring kaguluhan,” Remulla said.
