Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo C. Quiboloy has been ordered arrested by a Davao City court.
“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,” read the April 1 order of Presiding Judge Dante A. Baguio of Davao City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12.
The magistrate recounted that he issued a March 14 order that “found probable cause to issue a warrant of arrest” against Quiboloy.
However, Baguio said the lawyers of Quiboloy filed a motion to defer or suspend the issuance of the arrest warrant due to the pending motion for reconsideration before the Department of Justice (DOJ) which was asked to reconsider filing the charges before the RTC.
DOJ prosecutors filed before the RTC charges against Quiboloy for violating Sections 10(a) and 5(b) of Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act concerning alleged sexual abuses committed in 2011 against a female who was then 17 years old.
Baguio said he granted the motion of Quiboloy’s lawyers while awaiting the DOJ’s resolution of the motion for reconsideration.
“Now that more than reasonable time has lapsed, the Court did not receive any resolution of the accused’ Motion for Reconsideration by the Department of Justice neither a copy of the same was furnished to the Court by accused’ counsels nor a manifestation was duly filed, at the very least,” the magistrate pointed out.
“The Court mindful of the equally situated rights of both the prosecution and defense, which may include among others, the speedy disposition and speedy trial of cases, either of which or both, said right imposes an imperative task that this Court is indebted to fulfill,” he added.