Quiboloy faces sexual abuse, trafficking raps

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AFTER four years, the Department of Justice yesterday announced it has finished the petition for review on the criminal cases lodged against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quibolo, paving the way for the filing of a sexual abuse case of a minor and qualified trafficking against the religious leader.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced this in a press briefing yesterday, saying the DOJ has granted the petition for review against Quiboloy that has been pending before the department since 2020.

“There was a reversal of the previous ruling of the Office of the City Prosecutors of Davao. This case reached the department four years ago so we thoroughly studied this and the decision is that Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is liable for this,” Remulla said.

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The case for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law, specifically the sexual abuse of a minor, would be filed, according to Remulla, by the Davao City Prosecutors Office while the qualified trafficking case would be filed in Pasig City.

To recall, the Davao City Prosecutors Office dismissed the complaints of rape, child abuse, trafficking in persons through forced labor and trafficking in persons through sexual abuse against Quiboloy and five other individuals.

The complainant was a former member of the Davao-based KOJC who claimed she was sexually abused in 2014.

The victim filed a petition for review before the office of the Justice Secretary seeking a reversal of the decision of the Davao City Prosecutors Office.

Quiboloy has denied allegations of rape and other illegal activities.

Asked if the local prosecutor’s office committed grave abuse of discretion in junking the cases, Remulla said what happened was “not grave abuse of discretion, but rather appreciation of facts.”

TRANSFER OF VENUE

Remulla said he would also ask the Supreme Court to transfer the venue of the case from Davao City to Manila.

“I will sign a letter to the Supreme Court asking that once the case for rape about RA 7610 is filed it should be transferred to Manila,” he said.

“The crime happened in Davao but it started here, the qualified trafficking, but there are concerns since there are problems and threats in Davao so it is already part of our plans to ask the Supreme Court for a change of venue,” Remulla said, adding a special panel of prosecutors would be tasked to handle the case in Manila.

Remulla also said the DOJ will offer witness protection to the complainant to ensure her safety.

“We will offer witness protection to the victim,” Remulla said.

The WPP is administered through the DOJ.

Remulla added the lawyers of the complainant have assured the DOJ of their full cooperation in the case and they will not relent until justice is gained.

ILBO VS QUIBOLOY

Remulla also disclosed he has already signed an Immigration lookout bulletin order against Quiboloy.

“I already signed it. It will come first,” Remulla said.

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An ILBO may not prevent Quiboloy from leaving the country as it is for monitoring purposes only and is not in itself a sufficient prohibition to bar someone from leaving the country.

Only the courts can issue a hold departure order.

Remulla said once the case is filed, the DOJ will ask the court to issue a hold departure order against Quiboloy to prevent him from leaving the country while the case is on trial.

But Remulla said he believes Quiboloy is still in the country.

POLITICAL VENDETTA?

Remulla said there was no political vendetta involved in the case against Quiboloy, adding he and the DOJ are only doing their job.

“I know Pastor Quiboloy and I consider him as a good friend but this is part of my job and responsibility to the Filipino people. That is why even if he is a friend, I have to do this since it is part of my responsibility,” he said.

Quiboloy is a close associate of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte recently accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of being a drug addict while his son, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, called on Marcos to resign.

Remulla said Marcos did not interfere in the DOJ’s review of Quiboloy’s cases.

He added the President did not even mention the issue when they talked before Marcos left for Melbourne to attend the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.

Last week, Marcos asked Quiboloy to surface and answer the allegations against him before the Senate committee led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, which is investigating the rape and other illegal acts allegedly committed by the religious pastor.

Quiboloy 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 also blocked Quiboloy’s assets over what it described as “serious human rights abuses” committed by the televangelist.

Last month, the US Embassy in Manila said Quiboloy will eventually face charges against him filed in the US for “systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old.”

Quiboloy’s camp earlier downplayed the US indictments, saying it was baseless, adding the US government had violated his right to due process when the Treasury Department made it appear as if he was already guilty.

NO FEELERS

Hontiveros yesterday said Quiboloy has not sent any feelers that he would attend the hearing today on his alleged abuses.

“He has not sent any communication that he will attend (today’s) committee hearing],” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros said a second subpoena on Quiboloy has been issued and delivered to his legal counsel, which means the church leader has no reason to ignore the summons.

“If he does appear tomorrow (March 5), I will cite him in contempt and order his arrest,” she said.

Hontiveros described as a “big victory” for the victims the filing of cases by the DOJ against Quiboloy and thanked Remulla “for finally acting decisively on this matter.

“This is a welcome first step toward the victim-survivors’ cry for justice, peace, and healing…This positive development is a gift to every woman this Women’s Month,” she said.

Hontiveros assured that the hearings conducted by the Committee on Women, which she chairs, will continue to come up with strengthened laws for women, children, and “the most vulnerable among us.” — With Raymond Africa

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