Criminal charges will be filed before the trial courts in Davao City and Pasig City against Apollo C. Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), and several other persons.

To be filed before the Davao City regional trial court (RTC) against Quiboloy and five other persons is sexual abuse of a minor, a violation of Section 5(b) of Republic Act No. 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

To be filed before the Pasig City RTC against Quiboloy and his five co-accused are charges of qualified human trafficking under Section 4(a) of RA 9208, the Anti-Trafficking Persons Act of 2003.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said that once the case is filed before the Davao City RTC, the Department of Justice (DOJ) will seek the Supreme Court's (SC) permission for the transfer of the case to Manila.

In the sexual abuse of a minor, Remulla said the DOJ granted the petition for review of the victim who sought the reversal of the Nov. 23, 2020 resolution of the Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) of Davao City that dismissed her complaint.

“Lumalabas talaga rito ay meron talagang kailangan panagutan si Pastor Apolo Quibiloy at ang kanyang mga kasama sa isang nagrereklamong noong panahon na ‘yun ay menor de edad, 17 years old (It showed that Quiboloy and his companions are liable for the complaint filed by a female who was 17 years of age at the time of the commission of crime),” Remulla said. 

Quiboloy's five co-accused were identified by the DOJ as Jackielyn W. Roy, Cresente Canda, Paulene Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid C. Canada and Sylvia Cemanes.

On the transfer of the cases from Davao City to Manila, Remulla said: 

“Dahil nga may problema sa sa Davao at maraming pananakot na nagaganap, kaya may pag-aalinlalngan, ay minabuti po naming na talagang nakaplano na hingin sa Korte Suprema na ilipat  ang venue ng kasong ito sa Maynila at mag appoint ng special panel of prosecutors para usigin ang kasong ito (Because of problems in Davao and threats made, we will be asking the Supreme Court to transfer the case to Manila and appoint a special panel of prosecutors to handle it),” he said.

In the meantime, Remulla said he has issued an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against Quiboloy to monitor if the KOJC leader will attempt to flee the country.

Once charges have been, Remulla said government prosecutors will seek from the courts the issuance of a hold departure order (HDO) to prevent Quiboloy from leaving the country.

He said the victim in the case has been presented before the Senate which has been conducting hearings over the alleged abuses and violations committed by Quiboloy.

Before granting the petition for review of the victim, Remulla said the DOJ sought out the victim's  lawyer first and asked if they intend to still pursue the case against Quiboloy.

“‘Nung nalaman ko po na itutuloy ang kaso ay tinuloy na natin (When I learned that they wanted to pursue the case, we pushed for the filing of the charges),” he recalled.

He also said "mag-aalok po tayo ng witness protection sa naging biktima (we will offer witness protection to the victim).”

He assured that the filing of the charges  has nothing to do with the Senate hearings against Quiboloy.

“Kakilala ko po si Pastor Quiboloy. Tinuturing ko siyang isang kaibigan ngunit ito po ay trabahong ginagampanan ko po. Tungkulin ko po ito sa mamamayang Pilipino na gawin ang aking trabaho (I know Pastor Quiboloy. I consider him a friend but I have to do my job. I have a duty to the Filipino people to do my job),” Remulla pointed out.

He reminded that Quiboloy is also facing charges in the United States.

“Ang problema kasi dito ‘pag nagkaroon ng extradition at saka natin ipafile yung kaso, baka sabihin nila ay hinaharang yung extradition. Mabuti nang magkaroon din ng hustisya yung humihingi ng hustisya sapagkat napakatagal na panahon na itong nangyari (We don’t want to be accused of blocking Quiboloy’s extradition once the US asks for his extradition. It is better to give justice to those seeking justice even after a long time),” he pointed out.