Complainant in Quiboloy’s case testifies, cries in court — lawyer

Alias Amanda, the sole complainant in the cases against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy, finished her direct testimony on Monday, her lawyers said.

Lawyer Ian Enterina, Amanda’s legal counsel, said she cried while testifying before the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 159 in the qualified human trafficking case against Quiboloy.

“Direct testimony of alias Amanda was terminated today and her cross-examination will be on Thursday. Alias Amanda cried several times on the witness while she testified,” Enterina told GMA News Online.

Quiboloy attended the court proceedings on his petition to post bail despite a purported lingering cough, according to a "24 Oras" report by Oscar Oida.

Qualified human trafficking is a non-bailable offense.

"About 10:00 in the evening last night I was about to file a motion that he be excused from personally appearing today, pumunta talaga siya dito sa korte para ipakita na wala siyang kasalanan (He came to the court to show he did not commit any crime)," lawyer Israelito Torreon, Quiboloy's legal counsel, said.

On Thursday, January 16, the complainant will be cross-examined by defense lawyers.

Private prosecutor Joeie Domingo said they are prepared for the case.

"Very ready kasi kapag nagsasabi ka naman ng totoo handang handa ka naman kasi wala ka kailangang i-twist sa mga sasabihin mo (Very ready because if you tell the truth, you have nothing to twist in your statements)," Domingo said.

In a separate interview, she also said the prosecution opposed the bail "not only because we believe that the evidence of guilt is strong but also because we believe that Quiboloy is a flight risk given the history of how the government has spent so much of its resources for the pursuit of his arrest."

“We deem it inconsistent for him to be claiming that he is physically unwell when he is asking the court for furlough accommodations for his health yet fit to post bail to campaign for his senatorial bid,” she added.

In a separate statement, Torreon countered this, saying the evidence of guilt against Quiboloy "is quite shaky and weak."  

He added the court testimony of the complainant "appear to be curative in nature as it contains new matters which obviously were introduced to correct the weaknesses of the allegations in the original complaint."

"The resultant testimony in court now materially differs from the meat of the allegations in the original complaint," Torreon said.

"The overwhelming contradictions and inconsistencies in private complainant’s court testimony vis-a-vis her written complaint may hopefully become the primordial reason why the presiding judge may ultimately grant bail in favor of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy," he added.

Quiboloy is also facing charges under Section 5(b) and  Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.—LDF, GMA Integrated News