Pastor Apollo Quiboloy

Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 159 was right to junk detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's petition for house arrest at his sprawling resort in Davao City.

Thus, said Manila 1st district Rep. Ernix Dionisio Jr. of Manila and Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun as they thumbed any notion of providing special treatment to the controversial senatorial candidate.

“Kaya hindi siya binigyan probably walang tamang dahilan o rason para bigyan siya ng house arrest. No. 2, ‘yung batas pantay-pantay regardless of stature in life, ikaw ay mayaman, mahirap, may posisyon o wala,” Dionisio said

(There's probably no good reason for him to be granted house arrest, that's why it wasn't given to him. No. 2, we're all equal before the law, regardless of stature in life, whether you're rich or poor, or have a position or not.)

"So it only goes to show na walang valid reason (that there is no valid reason). So, kudos [to the judge],” he said. 

Khonghun agreed with majority colleague that the court made the right decision to reject Quiboloy’s house arrest request.

“Tama lang ‘yun na hindi payagan ang house arrest ni Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. ‘Yung mga nakabilanggo nga na ordinaryong Filipino...ay walang ganyang pribilehiyo, bakit natin siya bibigyan ng special na pagtrato?” he asked. 

(It's only right for Pastor Apollo Quibuloy’s house arrest request to be turned down. Detained ordinary Filipinos don't have that privilege, why should we give him special treatment?)

“Ang pagtanggi sa house arrest ni Pastor Quiboloy siguro nagpapakita na pantay-pantay na patas para sa lahat, lalo sa mga mabibigat na kaso at talagang may mga kasalanan,” he said.

(I think the rejection of Pastor Apollo Quibuloy’s house arrest request shows fair treatment to all, especially to those facing heavy allegations and are truly guilty.)

Quiboloy’s petition for house arrest was premised on medical reasons. The Pasig RTC Branch 159 denied it for lack of merit.

The court said mere speculations “regarding the potential deterioration of his health, while in detention, are insufficient to justify the grant of house arrest".

It said Quiboloy’s health “can be safeguarded while in detention through the medical interventions available at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology clinic and those which the court may prescribe".

The court previously allowed medical and hospital care for the detained preacher.

Quiboloy--who is running for senator under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) slate--is facing charges of child abuse, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. 

He is the spiritual adviser of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at The Hague in the Netherlands under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity.