Davao City prosecutor’s office junks Quiboloy’s libel complaint vs Pacquiao

The Office of the City Prosecutor in Davao City junked the libel complaint filed by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy against former senator Manny Pacquiao. 

The prosecutor's office dismissed the complaint for libel under Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 4(c) (4) of Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, on September 7 due to "insufficiency of evidence."

Quiboloy claimed that Pacquiao uttered statements against him which were intended to “malign, discredit, insult, assassinate his character to his congregations and to the general public.”

“However, the pieces of evidence presented barely show proof of actual malice. The complainant’s contention that the various press releases of herein respondent (Pacquiao) signifies proof of the latter’s malicious intention is not convincing,” stated the resolution, which was prepared by Prosecutor Jose Charito Cortez II.

The complaint stemmed from the statement of Pacquiao last February, when he, as then candidate for the 2022 presidential election, declined SMNI’s invitation for a debate and public forum since Quiboloy, “according to the US government, has molested and abused children.”

Pacquiao said he did not want to be "part of any activity organized by a man wanted for detestable crimes and who unconscionably used the name of the Lord in vain for religious scams.”

SMNI is the broadcast arm of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ church.

Earlier this year, the Makati City Prosecutor's Office junked the cyber libel complaint filed by Pacquiao against Quiboloy in connection with a television and social media post allegedly made by the religious leader, claiming that the former senator used public funds for the unfinished Sarangani Sports Training Center. — VBL, GMA News