Court handling graver offense should decide Quiboloy’s detention —lawyer

A lawyer on Tuesday said he believed that the Pasig court should determine where to detain Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy, considering it is the court handling his non-bailable case. 

Earlier, the Quezon City Court handling Quiboloy’s abuse case ordered his transfer from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame to the Quezon City Jail.

The PNP, however, later said that Quiboloy will remain at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame by virtue of an order received by the Pasig court, which is handling his qualified trafficking case.

“I think mag pre-prevail ‘yung order ng Pasig RTC considering na ang qualified human trafficking is a non-bailable offense,” National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL) President Ephraim Cortez told GMA News Online when sought for comment.

“Since graver ‘yung offense nung Pasig, it should be the Pasig court who will determine where to detain Apollo Quiboloy,” he later added.

Cortez clarified that this is not part of the Rules of Court.

He said that the Rules of Criminal Procedure only states that a court acquires jurisdiction over an accused once arrested.

“I think it should be written down to settle these issues, situations rather,” Cortez said.

Quiboloy surrendered to authorities on Sunday evening after he was given an ultimatum to turn himself in within 24 hours.

However, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Quiboloy was forced to turn himself in as the police were persistent in catching him. 

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said they are expecting the United States to file an extradition request for Quiboloy very soon.—LDF, GMA Integrated News