“Tatag lang, tatag lang (stay strong).”
Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder and leader Apollo C. Quiboloy said this to his followers as he arrived at the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 159 for his arraignment on his human trafficking charge on Friday morning, September 13.
Together with him were his co-accused, namely, Cresente Canada, Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, and Sylvia Cemanes.
One of Quiboloy's alleged victims, who was recruited and allegedly abused when she was a minor, also arrived at the RTC.
Quiboloy and his co-accused are facing before the Pasig RTC a case of qualified trafficking in persons in violation of Republic Act (RA) 9208, also known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, which concerns the alleged sexual abuse and trafficking in persons committed against a 17-year-old girl in 2011.
They were also charged before the Quezon City RTC for other acts of child abuse under Section 10(a) of RA 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
According to the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday, September 12, female minors as young as 12 and 13 years old were allegedly molested repeatedly by Quiboloy, as he promised that such sexual acts would assure them of their entry to heaven.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said that Quiboloy also threatened the victims with “angels of death," which would hunt them down if they would reveal what they went through to anybody.
Quiboloy is also wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States for various cases that include conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.
Quiboloy and his co-accused have been detained at the PNP's Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City, following his arrest last Sunday, September 8 in Davao City.
Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/12/more-victims-detail-alleged-ordeal-at-quiboloy-s-hands-lawyer-says-pnp-planted-new-victims