Court orders Quiboloy camp to explain pre-recorded message

A Pasig court has ordered the camp of detained televangelist Apollo Quiboloy to explain his recorded message that was played before his supporters and later posted on social media earlier in February.

In a two-page order dated February 12, the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 159 said the video was aired on February 9 at a gathering of Kingdom of Jesus Christ members before the court had the opportunity to review and approve it.

It said this was posted on February 10 on Facebook without approval, “in clear violation of the guidelines and parameters set by this court.”

The court gave Quiboloy's camp five days to explain the matter.

GMA News Online sought comment from Quiboloy’s camp but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Atty. Israelito Torreon, the pastor’s lawyer, claimed that Quiboloy was allowed to air out his recorded message for his senatorial campaign during a rally last week amid accusations of a VIP treatment.

Torreon said they asked the court to allow Quiboloy to be present during media interviews or to issue his statements during rallies.

“Eventually, the court denied our first motion that he personally appear in interviews, but granted our motion that he would take his messages to his supporters on February 9, February 11, February 13,” he said.

“It was within court sanction and order granted after a full blown hearing,” he added.

He issued the remark when asked about the statement of a group that Quiboloy was accorded VIP treatment after his recorded video message was played at his kick-off campaign on February 11.

Torreon said there is a presumption of innocence for accused individuals.

He said they invoked his rights under the 1987 Constitution and the Nelson Mandela Rules.

Quiboloy is currently facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended, before the Pasig court.

The Davao City-based religious leader 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.

Meanwhile, Torreon urged the Commission on Elections to conduct a manual count of the ballots for the midterm elections in the precinct level.

“Because there is no way for us to verify, whether or not your votes are indeed counted properly in this elections. Imagine, if you will just vote and your vote is not even flashed before you and it is not even seen whether or not your votes are counted, how are we going to verify when the votes are canvassed,” he said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News

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