The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, Oct. 11, confirmed that the United States authorities have agreed to drop the other charges against a female co-defendant of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo C. Quiboloy.
DOJ Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV said that Quiboloy's co-defendant Marissa Duenas had reached a plea agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Central District of California so that she can plead guilty to lesser offenses.
“Upon verifying with the US embassy, the US prosecutors and Quiboloy co-defendant Marissa Duenas have reached an agreement in which she pleads guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government (by helping KOJC with somewhere between 25 and 100 sham marriages to evade U.S. immigration laws) and the prosecutor agrees to dismiss the other charges against her only,” Clavano said.
“All the charges against all other defendants remain pending, and trial is tentatively scheduled to begin on May 20, 2025,” he also said.
In the Philippines, a plea bargaining agreement is filed with the court. If the plea bargaining is approved, an accused in a criminal case pleads guilty to a lesser offense for a lesser penalty.
Quiboloy and several co-defendants have been indicted in the US for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.
In the Philipppines, Quiboloy and his co-accused have been charged with qualified human trafficking and child abuse committed allegedly in 2011 against a female who was then just 17 years of age. The courts have issued arrest orders against them.
Quiboloy was arrested in Davao City last Sept. 8 by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and is currently detained at the Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.