The camp of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo C. Quiboloy on Wednesday, March 20, expressed belief that the courts will eventually dismiss the criminal charges filed against him.

"We now place full reliance on the Judiciary as the final nation of the people's rights, confident that the rights of an innocent man such as Pastor Quiboloy will be vindicated,  and his good name finally cleared,” said Ferdinand Topacio, Quiboloy's lawyer. 

Topacio's statement was issued after the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed criminal charges in courts against Quiboloy over allegations that he sexually abused in 2011 a female who was then just 17 years old.  He was also charged with qualified traffikcing of the alleged victim.

The Senate had ordered the arrest of Quiboloy for his refusal to attend the legislative hearings on the alleged sexual abuses and human trafficking he committed.

“As we prepare to avail of all judicial remedies, we shall now henceforth refrain from specifically commenting on the aforementioned issues out of respect to the courts, and we enjoin the others concerned to exhibit some sense of common decency at long last by doing the same,” Topacio said.

He said the proceedings at the DOJ and the Senate have “already reached their respective conclusions therein, and are now either before the courts or may be brought before them.”

"Pastor Quiboloy's legal team have done its level best to protect the Pastor and shield him from violations of his rights, but sadly, there are some powerful individuals who are hell-bent on persecuting him,” he also said..

Last Tuesday, the DOJ said criminal charges for violations of Section 5(b) and Section 10(a) of Republic Act (RA) No. 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, had  been filed before the Davao City regional trial court (RTC), while violation of Section 4(a) of RA 9208, the Anti-Trafficking Persons Act of 2003, had been filed before the Pasig City RTC.

The DOJ had said that the cases filed before the Davao City RTC recommended bail of P180,000 for sexual assault and P80,000 for maltreatment.

However, it said, no bail was recommended in the qualified human traffikcing case filed before the Pasig City RTC.

Quibuloy's co-accused in the cases are Jackielyn W. Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid C. Canada, and Sylvia Cemanes.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said the DOJ would seek permission from the Supreme Court to transfer the venue of the Davao City case to any court in Metro Manila.  It was not known immediately if a pleading has been filed.