Quiboloy cases transferred to Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines — To avoid a “miscarriage of justice,” the Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the transfer of the sexual and child abuse cases filed against fugitive Apollo Quiboloy from Davao City to Quezon City.

The SC granted the request of the Department of Justice to have Quiboloy’s cases transferred to a different court, citing the religious leader’s influence in Davao City.

The SC Second Division, in its administrative order, found “compelling reasons to justify the transfer of the venue, considering that the case involved public interest.”

“As this may cause biases and a possibility that witnesses cannot freely testify due to fear and influence of Quiboloy, the court finds it prudent to order the transfer of the cases to Quezon City,” the SC order read.

The high tribunal gave the clerk of court of the Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 12 three days to forward the records of the criminal cases to the Quezon City RTC.

The Quezon City executive judge was ordered to raffle off the cases among the RTC judges.

The Davao City court has issued a warrant for Quiboloy’s arrest.

In April, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla requested the transfer of Quiboloy’s cases to “prevent impartiality due to the pastor’s influence in Davao City.”

Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ ministry, is facing complaints for child molestation and sexual abuse before a Davao City court, as well as the non-bailable offense of qualified human trafficking before a Pasig court.