PNP: Quiboloy sex accusers to surface

Justice will prevail, says rape victim

MANILA, Philippines — Two alleged victims of sexual abuse by Apollo Quiboloy are willing to surface and testify against the controversial leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

The victims, whose identities are being withheld by the PNP for their protection, were among alleged victims of sex slavery of Quiboloy, who is facing charges of qualified sexual trafficking and child abuse before the Pasig City and Quezon City courts.

Citing her conversation with Davao City police chief Col. Hansel Marantan, PNP public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo said the two victims had signified their intention to hold Quiboloy accountable for the ordeal they suffered at the hands of the man who introduced himself to his followers as the “appointed son of God.”

“There are two who are willing to execute sworn statements,” Fajardo said in Filipino over dwPM.

The other victims whom Fajardo did not identify are hesitant to pursue cases against Quiboloy as their parents are still staying in the 30-hectare KOJC compound, where the religious sect leader hid before he was arrested by policemen in a massive manhunt that lasted more than two weeks.

Marantan, in an earlier statement, said he separately interviewed five young girls who claimed to have been molested by Quiboloy. The five girls were reportedly KOJC’s “pastorale,” or young women who perform chores and personal services for Quiboloy.

“He raped them when they were as young as 13 years old and threatened them with the angels of death if they broke the code of secrecy,” Marantan said.

The victims recounted to police investigators they were told their purity remained intact even after they were raped by Quiboloy as it was supposedly the spirit of God who had sex with them, Fajardo said.

In an interview with “24 Oras,” another alleged rape victim of Quiboloy, known only as “Amanda,” has expressed confidence “justice will prevail.”

She appealed to other victims to file charges against Quiboloy.

“We are already here. He (Quiboloy) was already arrested. We just need to have courage, tell the truth to get the justice that we deserve,” Amanda said.

She said she was very happy that Quiboloy was finally being tried in courts. Amanda was allegedly raped in 2014 when she was 17 years old.

She said she escaped KOJC in 2016 with the help of her parents.

“They (critics) always discredit me and call me a prostitute. They even threatened my family,” Amanda said.

“My family (is my strength) after we left (the KOJC), they are still there. We fought as a family,” she said. “If not for them, I will not have courage,” she added.

She said that she joined the KOJC as a child, sold biscuits and collected donations before she became part of the close-in aides Quiboloy.

Wih several alleged Quiboloy rape victims coming out in the open, Fajardo said other victims would be emboldened to press charges against the KOJC leader.

She is not discounting the possibility the parents of the girls could also be held accountable for what happened to them.

Fajardo said that if the alleged victims who have decided to come forward would put their testimonies into writing, their cases would be subject to separate trial.

She called on other alleged rape victims of Quiboloy to come out in the open, as she assured them of government protection.

Quiboloy is detained at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame, a detention facility for high-risk inmates. Four of his co-accused – Cresente Canada, Ingrid Canada, Jackielyn Roy and Sylvia Cemanes – were transferred to the Pasig City Jail upon the order of the court.

Another co-accused, Pauleen Canada, is detained at the same facility since her arrest last July.

Quiboloy was subjected to a medical evaluation by physicians of the PNP General Hospital on Friday in response to his lawyers’ motion that he be placed under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Davao City.

Fajardo said doctors checked Quiboloy’s blood pressure and conducted other tests to determine his medical condition.

While they have yet to receive the official findings of their doctors, Fajardo said their initial assessment is Quiboloy is doing well.

“We believe the PNP is capable of attending to his medical needs,” she said. – Bella Cariaso