Quiboloy camp won’t insist on KJC leader’s detention at Camp Crame

Photo from Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — The legal team of detained televangelist Apollo Quiboloy is reconsidering its request to transfer him from the Pasig City Jail to the custody of the Philippine National Police.

Quiboloy’s counsel, Israelito Torreon, said on Monday that they may withdraw their motion for reconsideration regarding the court’s order to transfer the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) leader from Camp Crame in Quezon City, where he was initially detained, to his current detention facility at the Pasig City Jail.

“Turned out that maybe it’s useless to fight it. The prosecution appears intent on keeping him there, so we’ll just take it as it is,” Torreon said.

READ: PNP expects Quiboloy’s transfer to Pasig jail as medical furlough ends

According to him, they still think it is more secure to keep Quiboloy in Camp Crame “given the security threats against him.”

“But knowing that the political air is not [in our favor], it might be useless for us to insist on what we think is right for him,” he added.

Torreon appeared at the Department of Justice on Monday for the continuation of the preliminary investigation of a malicious mischief complaint filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte, in his capacity as administrator of KOJC properties, against former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil.

The complaint is in connection with the implementation of arrest warrants issued against Quiboloy and his coaccused at the KOJC compound in Davao City in August.

The KOJC leader was arrested on Sept. 8 after a 16-day operation during which the police surrounded and searched the 30-hectare compound to find him and his coaccused.

According to Torreon, Duterte will submit his reply affidavit to the counteraffidavit filed by Abalos and other respondents on Dec. 16.

Meanwhile, KOJC, through a separate team of lawyers, is preparing to file counteraffidavits in connection with the illegal assembly, obstruction of justice and other charges filed against its members.

These cases against those accused of hampering or blocking the police operation to find Quiboloy had been dismissed by the Davao City prosecutor’s office but were refiled in Manila, Torreon said.