MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) filed a motion to oppose the camp of detained Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s petition to transfer his custody from the police to the militia.
The motion was filed before Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 159 on Tuesday afternoon.
On Monday, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong expressed opposition to the plea filed by Quiboloy’s lawyer Israelito Torreon to transfer his custody from the Philippine National Police (PNP) to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
READ: Quiboloy camp wants house arrest or custody transfer
“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 said in a statement.
Quiboloy is facing a non-bailable human trafficking case before the Pasig RTC.
Earlier, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the Pasig RTC issued an order “directing the PNP to retain the custody” of Quiboloy and four other subordinates after the Quezon City RTC Branch 106 directed their transfer to jails in Quezon City.
READ: Quiboloy, 4 others to remain at PNP custodial center – Fajardo
Aside from Quiboloy, Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente Canada, and Sylvia Cemanes face child abuse cases in Quezon City RTC, but these cases are bailable.
The five suspects have been detained at the PNP custodial center since Sunday. They were transported there shortly after their arrest in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City.
READ: Quiboloy appears at PNP press briefing