Mug shots of detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy (Images from the Philippine National Police – Public Information Office)
MANILA, Philippines — The mugshot of detained televangelist and Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy was blurred in line with the Commission on Human Rights’ directive to protect a suspect’s dignity, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PNP Spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo also noted that this is not the first time a suspect’s mugshot was blurred.
“Bilang pagtugon na din po yan sa utos ng Commision on Human Rights na hangga’t maaari ay takpan naman to also protect their dignity,” Fajardo said in an ambush interview in Camp Crame.
(This is in response to the order of the Commission on Human Rights that, as much as possible, their faces should be blurred also to protect their dignity.)
“Remember, they are presumed innocent; hanggang sila ay mapatunayang guilty so pagsunod lamang po iyan at yan ang policy ng PNP,” she added.
(Remember, they are presumed innocent until proven guilty so that is following the policy of PNP.)
On Monday, PNP released the blurred mugshots of Quiboloy, along with his co-accused, Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente Canada, and Sylvia Cemanes.
They were also presented during the PNP press briefing.
Quiboloy, clad in an orange detainee shirt, was unrecognizable as he also wore sunglasses, a face mask, a black scarf, and a cap bearing the mark “Agila.”
The four other suspects were also wearing orange shirts and masks.
The five suspects have been under PNP custody since Sunday after their arrest at the KJC compound in Davao City.
Quiboloy and the five co-accused face child abuse charges before a Davao City court. One of them — 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.