DOJ orders filing of child abuse, trafficking case vs Quiboloy

Apollo Quiboloy

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the filing of sexual abuse of a minor case and qualified trafficking against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, 

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla made the announcement on Monday as the DOJ granted the petition for review, pending before the DOJ for over four years.

Following the granting of a petition for review, the Office of the City Prosecutor of Davao City was ordered to file the case for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law, specifically the provision of sexual abuse of a minor.

Remulla said the case for qualified human trafficking would be filed before a Pasig court.

“There was a reversal of the previous ruling of the Office of the City Prosecutors of Davao. At sa masusing pag-aaral, nakita natin na mabigat talaga ang dahilan [And upon closer examination, we have seen that the reason is indeed significant],” Remulla said of the DOJ’s decision reversing the findings of the Davao Prosecutor.

“Ang mga kasong ito ay dumating sa departamentong ito apat na taon na ang nakalipas kaya pinag aralan namin ng husto at ang lumalabas rito ay mayroon talagang pananagutan si Pastor Apollo Quiboloy at ang kanyang mga kasama,” Remulla added.

[These case reached the department four years ago so we thoroughly studied this and the decision is that Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is liable].

Aside from Quiboloy, to be included in the case for violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Act and Qualified Trafficking, are five other individuals.

The Davao City prosecutors’ office dismissed the complaints of rape, child abuse, trafficking in persons through forced labor, and trafficking in persons through sexual abuse against Quiboloy and the five other individuals.

The complainant was a former member of the Davao-based KJC who claimed that she was sexually abused in 2014 when she was 17 years old.

The victim filed a petition for review before the office of the Justice Secretary, seeking a reversal of the decision of the Davao City prosecutors office.

Quiboloy has denied allegations of rape and other illegal activities.

Asked if the local prosecutors office committed grave abuse of discretion in junking the cases, Remulla said what happened is “not grave abuse of discretion, but rather appreciation of facts.”

Meanwhile, Remulla said they will also ask the Supreme Court to transfer the venue of the case from Davao City to Manila.

“Pipirmahan ko ang sulat sa Korte Suprema pag nai-file na ang kaso na ilipat sa Maynila ang kaso ng rape in relation to RA 7610,” Remulla said.

[Once the case for rape in relation to RA 7610 is filed, I will sign the letter to the Supreme Court asking that the case be transferred from Davao City to Manila.]

Remulla explained that they wanted the case transferred due to threats and intimidation in Davao.