Mug shots of detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Images from the Philippine National Police – Public Information Office
MANILA, Philippines — The camp of detained televangelist Apollo Quiboloy on Monday filed a petition to put the embattled religious leader to house arrest or his custody be transferred to a facility of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Quiboloy’s lawyer Israelito Torreon cited security concerns, as well as his client’s age.
The pastor, along with four others, were detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) custodial center since Sunday.
“Right now, we filed a motion to transfer his custody with the AFP, citing, among other grounds, security reasons,” Torreon said in an ambush interview at the front of the PNP custodial center.
“We are hoping that the court would grant the same, or at the very least, a house arrest, knowing that he is already 74 years old; he has [a] health condition,” he also said.
Torreon then cited Quiboloy’s “advocacy” against the communist New People’s Army as the main security threat.
However, the Department of National Defense (DND) immediately rejected Torreon’s call.
“The DND will oppose any motion to have Pastor Quiboloy transferred to AFP custody,” said DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong in a statement issued a few hours after Torreon’s call.
“AFP facilities are subject to strict operational security protocols, thus, the AFP is not the proper agency to have custody of suspects in criminal cases,” Andolong added.
Quiboloy, along with Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente Canada, Sylvia Cements, were already arrested inside the KJC compound on Sunday, weeks after the police entered the area on August 24.
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They were later detained at the PNP custodial center on Sunday night, and were presented to a press conference on Monday afternoon.
“He does not want his flock to suffer anymore,” Torreon said of Quiboloy.
Quiboloy and the five co-accused face child abuse cases before the Davao City court. One of them has been under the custody of authorities since July.
Likewise, Quiboloy has standing arrest warrants for human trafficking issued by a Pasig City court.