Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, founder of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), pleaded "not guilty" when arraigned by the Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) on a criminal charge of child sexual abuse on Friday afternoon, Sept. 13.
"Apollo C. Quiboloy and the other accused pleaded not guilty," said lawyer Israelito Torreon, one of the pastor's legal counsel.
Torreon said the trial court also set the pre-trial of the case on Oct. 2 and the marking of the exhibits on Oct. 26.
“That’s the only information that I can give you because the proceedings are strictly confidential,” Torreon explained.
Quiboloy and his co-accused were charged with “other acts of child abuse” under Section 10(a) of Republic Act No. 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The case at the Quezon City RTC involved the alleged sexual abuse committed against a minor who was only 17 years old in 2011.
Earlier on Friday morning, Sept. 13, Quibuloy pleaded "not guilty" to the charge of human trafficking lodged by government prosecutors before the Pasig City RTC.
Quiboloy will remain in custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at its detention center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
His child abuse case was originally filed before the RTC in Davao City. The Supreme Court (SC), however, on a plea of the Department of Justice (DOJ), transferred the venue of the case to the Quezon City RTC/.