MAIN MAN. Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy (standing, in black Agila cap) is presented to the media in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Monday (Sept. 9, 2024) by (from left, seated) Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos and Police Regional Office-Davao Director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III. His aides and fellow human trafficking suspects Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente Canada and Sylvia Cemañes are also at the press conference. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy and his four co-accused will remain detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center, a police official said Tuesday.
This is based on a separate order issued by the Pasig City Regional Court (RTC) Branch 159 ordering the police to retain custody over the five accused, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
This came as the Quezon City RTC Branch 106, which handles the child sexual abuse charges against Quiboloy, his aides Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Ingrid Canada, and Sylvia Cemañes, ordered their transfer to the Quezon City Jail.
They are also facing qualified human trafficking charges before the Pasig court.
"The CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) will submit a report and a reply to the Quezon City court to inform it of the order of the RTC of Pasig directing the PNP to retain custody of these individuals because their cases before the Pasig court are non-bailable. We don’t want to run the risk of transferring them to Quezon City. We just have to harmonize the court orders," Fajardo said.
Based on the Quezon City court's order, Quiboloy and Cresente Canada were supposed to be transferred to the new Quezon City Jail facility in Barangay Payatas while the three female detainees would be detained at the Quezon City Jail Female Dormitory at Camp Karingal.
Fajardo said the CIDG would also coordinate with the Department of Justice as the schedule of the arraignment of Quiboloy and his co-accused was set at the same time on Sept. 13.
The CIDG and DOJ are looking at the possibility of filing a motion for the use of video conferencing for the arraignment of Quiboloy and his co-accused.
The Quezon City RTC has reportedly agreed to have the procedure done via video conference but the Pasig RTC, according to Fajardo, required the presence of all the accused during the arraignment proper.
Quiboloy and the four other KOJC members are currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame where dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo is also detained.
Fajardo said security adjustments would be made since the detainees at the facility are high-profile personalities.
Blurred mugshots
Fajardo said the mugshots of Quiboloy and his co-accused were blurred in compliance with the Commission on Human Rights’ directive to protect the dignity of accused individuals.
“This is not the first time ang PNP released blurred mugshots. Even in previous cases, the arresting units blur their faces and even removed their names as per the CHR's order. Remember, they are also presumed innocent until proven guilty," she said in a separate interview.
She, meanwhile, said an investigation into the possible involvement of high-profile personalities in assisting Quiboloy is underway.
“Obviously, there are those who harbored fugitives. Obviously, some know they were inside (the KOJC compound). Obviously, some people lied when they said they do not know where Pastor Quiboloy is. As I have said, without naming names, let's wait for the formal charges against those willingly and wittingly coddled them in spite of the fact that they have existing warrants of arrest," she added.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it would fully comply with the results of court proceedings regarding Quiboloy’s case.
“The AFP also supports the pronouncement of the Department of National Defense (DND) and stands with law enforcement agencies in their duty to ensure compliance with the law and the fair administration of justice. We uphold the principles of due process and justice for all,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a statement Tuesday.
On Monday, Quiboloy’s legal counsel Israelito Torreon said they would ask the court to order the transfer of the evangelist’s custody to the military, citing security reasons.
The DND earlier said it would oppose moves to transfer Quiboloy to the AFP’s custody, stressing that the military is not the proper body to have custody of suspects in criminal cases. (with Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
