Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. (Photo from Pastor Apollo Quiboloy Facebook page)
MANILA – The Davao City Prosecutor's Office dismissed criminal complaints against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and five other members of the religious sect.
The complaints for rape, trafficking in persons through sexual abuse, trafficking in persons through forced labor, physical abuse and child abuse were dismissed for insufficiency of evidence, lack of jurisdiction, prescription, and lack of probable cause.
Aside from Quiboloy, likewise cleared in the charges were Jackielyn W. Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, and Ingrid C. Canada, all members of the KJC The Name Above Every Name Inc. based in Davao City, and Sylvia Cemanes, coordinator of the KJC congregation in Pasig City.
The 16-page joint resolution dated June 29 and released on Wednesday was signed by Senior Assistant City Prosecutors Jay Karel Sanchez II, Myla Comendador-Lao, Panfilo Junior Lovitos and approved by Davao City Prosecutor Nestor Ledesma.
The complainant in the case, Blenda Portugal, said she along with her sister Elaine joined the organization after their father, Eliseo Portugal was convinced to join by Cemanes in 2007. They were aged 10 and eight, respectively, at the time.
They formally joined the organization in 2012. During activities known as "months of blessing", the complainant claimed they were asked to do caroling, beg for money, sell food and hand out envelopes for solicitation.
They were subsequently moved to Davao City to be "full-time miracle workers".
"Clearly, the complaint is wanting of specific particulars and lack the documentary evidence needed to form a reasonable ground of suspicion that child abuse was in fact committed by the respondents against the complainant," the prosecutors said.
The prosecutors noted that the sisters were given by the respondent access to free education, allowances, and board and lodging and even musical training. (PNA)
