THE Davao City regional trial court Branch 12 has issued a warrant for the arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for sexual abuse of minor.
The order dated April 1 was issued by Presiding Judge Dante Baguio.
Aside from Quiboloy, also ordered arrested were Jackiely W. Roy, Pauline Canada, Cresente Canada, Ingrid C. Canada and Sylvia Cemanes.
Quiboloy and his co-accused have been charged for violating Republic Act 7610, or the Anti-Child Abuse Law.
Quiboloy has repeatedly denied the allegations of rape and other illegal activities hurled against him.
The Davao court originally issued the warrant of arrest last March 14 after it found probable cause against the religious leader, but its implementation was suspended after Quiboloy’s camp informed the court that they have filed a motion for reconsideration before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In issuing the arrest warrant last April 1, the court said it has not received any resolution or communication from the DOJ in relation to the said motion.
“Now that more than reasonable time has lapsed, the Court did not receive any resolution of the accused’s Motion for Reconsideration by the Department of Justice. Neither a copy of the same was furnished to the Court by accused’s counsels nor a manifestation was duly filed, at the very least,” the court’s two-page order said.
“Having received none as of this date, the Court declines this time to await. As what was earlier determined upon judicious examination and perusal of information where it found probable cause, let the warrants of arrest already issued be implemented immediately,” it said.
Hours after the arrest warrant was issued, Davao region police director Brig. Gen. Alden Delvo said Cresente Canada surrendered to the police.
“One of the respondents there, Cresente Canada, sent feelers already that he will be submitting himself. Actually, he is in custody right now and is being processed at the NBI office, together with our PNP personnel,” said Delvo.
A TV Patrol report said Cresente and Pauline Canada and Cemanes are now under the custody of the NBI Southern Mindanao Regional Field Office (NBI SEMRO).
Delvo said the Davao region police has held a “pre-operation conference” after it received a copy of the arrest warrant against Quiboloy and his co-accused.
He said police went to the premises of the KOJC in Davao City but they did not find Quiboloy.
Delvo said policemen told the lawyers of Quiboloy to tell their client to surrender so he can be processed and he can post bail, which the court set at P180,00 bail for Quiboloy and P80,000 for each of his five co-accused.
“We haven’t spoken to Pastor Quiboloy but they (people at KOJC compound) were polite enough to let us enter the premises of the Kingdom (of Jesus Christ),” said Delvo.
On the whereabouts of Quiboloy, Delvo said: “They would not divulge but we are just hoping that in the coming days, Pastor Quibiloy will submit himself to authorities so he can be processed and he could post bail.”
Delvo said Quiboloy will be subjected to manhunt operation if he will not surrender.
Asked if Quiboloy is still in the country, Delvo said: “I believe so. I believe he is still here in Davao City or Davao region in Mindanao because, for me, this is his safe haven and I am just hoping that in the coming days, his lawyers will convince him to submit himself to authorities so we can process him.”
Delvo expressed hopes that the pastor’s followers will not offer any resistance when Quiboloy is arrested by the police.
“I think the lawyers will talk to their client also. We don’t want trouble…I know that they understand that also and I appeal to the followers of Pastor Quiboloy not to resort to violence and (respect) the rule of law,” he said.
WELCOME DEVELOPMENT
Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women which is investigating allegations of various abuses against the pastor, welcomed the issuance of the arrest warrant.
“Bilang na ang masasayang araw ni Apollo Quiboloy. Halos lahat na ng institusyon sa Pilipinas ay gumagalaw para mapangot siya (The happy days of Apollo Quiboloy are now numbered. Almost all institutions in the country are moving to make him accountable),” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“The PNP in Davao previously expressed its willingness to work with other law enforcement agencies in arresting the Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader. Tiwala ako na matutupad ito at mahuhuli si Quiboloy (I am confident that this will be carried out and Quiboloy will be arrested),” Hontiveros also said.
Once arrested, Hontiveros said she expects Quiboloy to attend the Senate hearings, which he has repeatedly snubbed despited numerous invitations and even a subpoena.
“He should just cooperate and properly answer the accusations hurled against him. Kung walang kasalanan, hindi kailangang magtago (If you are innocent, there is no need to hide),” she said.
Quiboloy has said that he has no plans of attending the Senate hearings, where he claimed he has already been prejudged.
The Hontiveros committee is investigating Quiboloy over allegations of large-scale human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence, and child abuse he supposedly committed against former members of the KOJC.
Government prosecutors have also indicted Quiboloy and his co-accused before the Pasig City RTC for qualified trafficking in persons.
Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez said there is “no update” yet on the Pasig case.
At the House of Representatives, Rep. France Castro (PL, ACT), a member of the Makabayan bloc, commended the DOJ for paving the way for the issuance of the arrest warrant.
“It is good that the original joint resolution dated June 29, 2020 by the Office of the City Prosecutor of Davao City, which dismissed the complaints for rape, qualified human trafficking, and child abuse, has been overturned by the DOJ. Finally, the department is seeing the alleged crimes of Quiboloy in a new light, and we hope that it would act swiftly to deliver justice to Quiboloy’s victims,” Castro said.
“It is also good that the petition for review concerning the case against Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and others has been granted, marking a significant development in the pursuit of justice for the victims. The Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) was issued against Pastor Quiboloy on 27 February 2024, underscores the gravity of the allegations against him,” she added.
Another Makabayan bloc member, Rep. Arlene Brosas (PL, Gabriela), said the charges against Quiboloy “are deeply troubling, as they involve allegations of sexual abuse of minors and maltreatment within his organization.”
“It is a stark reminder of how individuals who hold power and influence often exploit and abuse the vulnerable. For far too long, Quiboloy managed to evade justice, shielded by his connections and the protection of former President Rodrigo Duterte,” she said.
Brosas said the fact that Quiboloy evaded justice for years “raises serious questions about the network of enablers and powerful individuals who may have been directly involved in helping him conduct his illegal activities.”
“An investigation must be conducted not only into his crimes but also into his connections, as it is inconceivable that he could have avoided accountability for so long without active assistance from influential figures who are aiding and abetting him. No one, regardless of their stature or connections, should be above the law. We stand in solidarity with the victims of these abuses and commend their bravery in coming forward to seek justice,” she said.
Quiboloy is a close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, whom the former has appointed as administrator of his estate.
Quinboloy was also indicted by a California court in 2021 for allegedly conspiring to engage in sex trafficking, and has an active arrest warrant in the US issued on November 10, 2021, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The US Department of Treasury in 2022 has also blocked Quiboloy’s assets over what it described as “serious human rights abuses” committed by the televangelist.
Quiboloy’s camp has downplayed the US indictments, saying it was baseless and that the US government has violated his right to due process when the Treasury Department made it appear that he was already guilty. — With Victor Reyes, Raymond Africa and Wendell Vigilia
