Quiboloy pleads not guilty to human trafficking raps

KOJC leader, 5 others arraigned in Pasig court

MANILA, Philippines —  Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy and five co-accused pleaded not guilty to charges of qualified human trafficking and child abuse before the Pasig City and Quezon City courts yesterday.

Quiboloy – who calls himself the “appointed son of God” – entered a not guilty plea before the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 159 in the morning along with his co-accused Cresente Canada, Ingrid Canada, Jackielyn Roy, Sylvia Cemanes and Pauleen Canada.

“He pleaded not guilty because he is innocent, that’s all,” said Israelito Torreon, Quiboloy’s lawyer. “We will not make any statement because the case is already in court.”

Security was tight during their arraignment. Philippine National Police (PNP) public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo confirmed that the accused pleaded not guilty.

“All the accused entered the not guilty plea to two counts of qualified human trafficking,” she said at a press briefing.

Fajardo said one of the complainants in the case against Quiboloy in the Pasig City RTC, identified only as “Minor AAA,” was in the courtroom during the arraignment.

In the afternoon, Quiboloy and the others again entered a plea of not guilty to charges of child abuse before Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 106 through video conferencing.

After their arraignment in Pasig City, Fajardo said Quiboloy’s lawyers filed a motion for him and Ingrid to be placed under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Davao City, citing their existing medical condition.

Their counsels manifested that the two were having a hard time at  the PNP Custodial Center, especially in addressing their medical needs.

Fajardo said Quiboloy is taking maintenance medicines for an unspecified ailment.

Prosecutors objected to the religious sect leader’s request.

“It defeats the purpose of having him transferred from Davao – only to send him back there,” Fajardo said. She said the PNP has its own hospital which can address Quiboloy’s medical needs.

Fajardo said the judge ordered the PNP to have Quiboloy checked by government doctors while Ingrid’s motion was junked.

Transferred

The court then issued an order transferring Quiboloy’s co-accused to the Pasig City Jail. He will remain at the PNP Custodial Center while his medical condition is being evaluated.

“Pending resolution of their motion to have him checked by government-provided medical doctors,  he will stay temporarily at the custodial center,” Fajardo said.

As of yesterday afternoon, Quiboloy’s co-respondents were still at Camp Crame where they want to remain, based on a motion for reconsideration filed by his legal team before the Pasig City RTC for them to be allowed to stay at PNP headquarters.

A member of Quiboloy’s legal team, lawyer Mark Tolentino, said that apart from security considerations, it would be a pity if Quiboloy were to be left alone at the PNP’s custodial facility.

He said the KOJC leader dreads an environment where he could not use social media or listen to religious music.

Quiboloy was brought to the courtroom before 8 a.m. under heavy security, with at least 100 police officers deployed around the city hall grounds.

Clad in black pants and orange detention shirt, Quiboloy also wore a helmet and bulletproof vest. He concealed his face with a mask and sunglasses.

As he was being ushered to the courtroom, Quiboloy was asked for his message to his followers to which he replied: “Tatag lang, tatag lang (Just be strong, be strong).”

Quiboloy and his co-accused were arrested on the night of Sept. 8 at the KOJC compound in Davao City, following a two-week manhunt by thousands of policemen in the 30-hectare property.

He could face additional cases after several of his alleged victims came forward to accuse him of sexual abuse.

Investigate Duterte

As more witnesses have come forward to pin down Quiboloy and his cohorts, Gabriela Women party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said former president Rodrigo Duterte and other officials should be investigated and prosecuted for aiding the sect leader in hiding from authorities.

“His potential involvement in shielding him from justice must be scrutinized,” Brosas said, referring to Durterte.

She cited Quiboloy’s earlier pronouncement that he had appointed his friend and former president as administrator of KJOC properties.

“We cannot allow this culture of impunity and fear to persist. No one should be above the law, and the cries for justice from these young girls must be heard and acted upon without delay,” she pointed out, referring to Quiboloy’s alleged victims of sexual abuse.

“The details about Quiboloy’s alleged crimes are the work of someone who is pure evil. It is a grave injustice that Quiboloy has operated with impunity in Mindanao for decades, possibly leaving behind a trail of countless victims who have been too terrified to speak out,” she added.

The lawmaker said that Quiboloy must face the “fullest extent of the law for the crimes he has committed against women and children.”

She said the KOJC leader “should rot in jail” and that “all those who aided and abetted his actions, including powerful figures and public officials, must be held accountable.”

Still no US extradition request – DOJ

Meanwhile, the United States has yet to formally request for extradition of Quiboloy, who is facing labor and sex trafficking charges before a federal court in California.

“There is still no official request from the United States,” Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty said in Filipino during an interview with “Storycon” on One News yesterday.

“Once it arrives, there will be a process. It will go through DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), where it will be vetted before it is forwarded to us,” he added.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will then file a petition before a court, which will ultimately decide if the legal parameters of extradition are met.

Ty noted the preference of President Marcos and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for Quiboloy to face charges in the Philippines first before his possible extradition.

But the undersecretary noted that there could be different “permutations” of the process, such as an extradition petition being heard by a local court while Quiboloy is on trial for charges in the Philippines.

“The bottomline is that our country has the call on whether to grant such (extradition) request from the United States,” he said.

The US DOJ earlier declined to comment on the matter.

“As a matter of policy, the US Department of Justice generally does not comment on extradition-related matters until a defendant is in the United States,” a spokesperson said in response to an inquiry sent by The STAR earlier this week.

Ty said both the executive and the judiciary have to be on board on the matter.

“We’ll have to present in the court if it’s an extraditable offense among other things. There are a lot of issues that have to be resolved before the court ultimately comes up with a decision to extradite Pastor Quiboloy,” said the justice official.

“The discretion of the executive will have to come into play as well,” he added.  – Sheila Crisostomo, Janvic Mateo, Edith Regalado, Bella Cariaso