Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo C. Quiboloy will remain detained at the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame, Quezon City, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Friday, Sept. 13.
DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix L. Ty said on PTV’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon that during the arraignment held at the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 139, government prosecutors opposed the request of the camp of Quiboloy that the KOJC founder be placed under house arrest or confined in a hospital.
“Kaya ang puno’t dulo ng hearing kanina, in so far as custody is concerned, ay ang custody ni pastor ay mananatili sa PNP sa Camp Crame at ‘yung kapwa akusado naman n’ya ay pinadala na sa Pasig City Jail (In the end, in so far as custody is concerned, the hearing earlier resulted in the continued PNP custody of Quiboloy while his co-accused have been ordered transferred to the Pasig City Jail),” said Ty.
Quiboloy, who was arrested last Sept. 8 in Davao City, is facing before the Pasig RTC a case for qualified trafficking in persons in violation of Section (a) of Republic Act (RA) 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
The case stemmed from the complaint of a woman known only as alias Amanda who claimed that she was sexually abused by Quiboloy in 2011 when she was 17 years old.
“Alam natin na ang pinakaimportanteng witness dito ay ang complainant na si alias Amanda (We know that the complainant alias Amanda is the most important witness here),” said Ty.
Though Amanda has refused to be placed under the Witness Protection Program (WPP), Ty assured that the government provides her and her lawyer security escorts everytime they appear in court.
Ty lauded Amanda for continuing to pursue the case against Quiboloy and his co-accused.
He said Amanda's persistence has resulted to other victims coming forward to pursue complaints against the religious leader.
Apart from the victims who approached the PNP, Ty disclosed “sa amin din mismo may mga lumapit na ilang mga biktima na nais din magsalang ng kanya-kanyang mga kaso (the DOJ was also approached by several victims who are eyeing to file separate complaints).”
“’Yung iba namang mga biktima kung gusto nila maisama sa Witness Protection Program handang handa kami doon (We are ready to accept the victims to the Witness Protection Program),” he assured.
Quibuloy and his co-accused also have a criminal case before the Quezon City RTC for violation of Section 5(b) of RA 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and under Section 10(a) of the same act in the afternoon.
Also, Quiboloy is facing charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling in the United States.