DND rejects Quiboloy camp’s call for military custody

Pastor Apollo Quiboloy (center) is unrecognizable as he wears sunglasses, a face mask, a black scarf, and a cap with the word “Agila” when presented to the public during a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on Monday, September 9, 2024. INQUIRER.net / John Eric Mendoza

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday immediately rejected the request of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s camp for military custody.

Quiboloy, along with Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente Canada and Sylvia Cemanes, have been under the Philippine National Police (PNP) custody since Sunday shortly after their arrest in Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City.

Israelito Torreon, Quiboloy’s legal counsel, on Monday said they already filed a motion to transfer Quiboloy’s custody to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“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 and the five co-accused face child abuse cases before the Davao City court. One of them — identified as Pauline Canada — has been under the custody of authorities since July.

Likewise, Quiboloy has standing arrest warrants for human trafficking issued by a Pasig City court.