3 House leaders back transfer of Quiboloy's trial from Davao court

At least three leaders of the House of Representatives on Monday backed the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request to transfer the trial venue for the criminal charges filed against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

House Assistant Majority Leaders Jill Bongalon of Ako-Bicol party-list and Zia Adiong of Lanao del Norte, as well as House Deputy Speaker Jayjay Suarez of Quezon, made the position in connection with the DOJ’s request for the Quiboloy trial on child abuse charges to be transferred from Davao city to Pasig City, where there are also pending criminal cases against Quiboloy.

In the Davao cases, the charges filed by the DOJ against Quiboloy include  violation of Section 5(b) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and Section 10(a) of the same act. As for the Pasig cases, the DOJ filed qualified human trafficking charges against Quiboloy under Section 4 (a) of Republic Act 9208, as amended.

Both courts have issued warrant of arrest against Quiboloy.

“For fair play and impartiality during the legal proceedings, we need to change the venue,” Bongalon, a lawyer, said in a press conference.

Bongalon said a change in venue will ensure "neutrality in the environment. It is also a part of the rules of procedure."

The headquarters of Quiboloy’s KOJC is in Davao city, the same city where his KOJC dome is located.

"This move is to insulate the case from any interference. You have to consider the environment where the criminal cases are being heard, and a lot of us know how popular, how influential Pastor Quiboloy is in Davao city, his bailiwick," Adiong, for his part, said.

"For a court to decide fairly, without intervention from any other sector either supportive or in opposition of Quiboloy, it is proper to change the venue," he added.

Bongalon and Adiong said holding Quiboloy’s criminal trial in Pasig will also protect the rights of all the personalities involved, including Quiboloy.

"The change of venue will ensure that the rights of the people involved won't be sacrificed, and that includes the accused, Pastor Quiboloy," Bongalon said.

Adiong said the same also goes for the judges.

"This is not only for the witnesses, but also for the judges. We all know how crucial, how dangerous, how risky their job is in handling cases. So it is better for the case to be free of a certain atmosphere in Davao city where there is heightened tension, given that it is Quiboloy’s bailiwick," he said.

Suarez, for his part, called on the authorities to shape up in terms of looking for Quiboloy, given that the manhunt has so far failed to locate him despite the issuance of warrants of arrest, including from the Senate, which is also investigating his alleged abuses.

"I respect the position of the DOJ on the change of venue, but the bigger concern here is, bakit hindi pa rin nahahanap si (how come they have yet to locate) Quiboloy?" he said.

"The Senate [also] already issued a warrant of arrest against him. He is not respecting our institutions and disregarding our laws. This is a gentle call to our law enforcement to look for him and put him in proper custody,” Suarez said.

Aside from pending cases in the Philippines, Quiboloy is also on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation's most wanted list over alleged conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling. 

Quiboloy has all denied these charges, saying he is being unfairly persecuted. —KBK, GMA Integrated News