Quiboloy's lawyer to ask court for AFP custody, house arrest

The camp of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy will file a petition seeking to put him under the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or under house arrest, his lawyer Atty. Israelito Torreon said on Monday.

“We will file the motion for the transfer of his custody to the AFP citing among other grounds security reasons and we are hoping that the court would grant the same, at the very least house arrest knowing that he is already 74 years old, he has health condition,” Torreon said.

Quiboloy was arrested on Sunday after hiding for weeks following the criminal charges filed against him. He is now detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

When asked what security threat Quiboloy is facing, his lawyer said, “He was very active in his advocacy against the NPAs and he was actively supporting the NTF-ELCAC, and he feels that the same should be considered.” 

The lawyer stressed that Quiboloy surrendered to authorities and was not arrested. 

“An arrest is only made when there is an actual restraint of the person to be arrested. In this case, there is no actual restraint as a matter of fact the person who received his custody did not even know as to his exact location when the custody happened,” said Torreon. 

The self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” surrendered for the sake of the members of his megachurch, Kingdom of Jesus Christ, according to his camp. 

“He decided to make the ultimate sacrifice of surrendering para matapos na po yung sufferings ng kanyang mga miyembro,” said Torreon. 

(He decided to make the ultimate sacrifice of surrendering to end the suffering of his church members.) 

But the Department of National Defense (DND) does not welcome the idea of having Quiboloy under the military's custody. 

"The Department of National Defense will oppose any motion to have Pastor Quiboloy transferred to AFP custody. AFP facilities are subject to strict operational security protocols, thus, the AFP is not the proper agency to have custody of suspects in criminal cases," the DND said in a statement. 

Meanwhile, Torreon is not intimidated by a possible investigation about his alleged knowledge of the whereabouts of his client. He noted that he only knew about the return of Quiboloy at the KOJC compound on Sunday. 

“He had to meet his leaders again….that is why on September 8 there was already a decision that he will surrender and on September 8 of the morning, I was informed about it and in front of ISAFP officers and PNP, the decision was made,” he said. 

Arrest warrants were issued by Davao and Pasig courts against Quiboloy and others for alleged violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act as well as qualified human trafficking.

He has also been indicted by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California for 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. —Vince Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News