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Quiboloy charged with criminal raps in Pasig, Davao courts

Ian Laqui - Philstar.com

March 19, 2024 | 7:26pm

Quiboloy charged with criminal raps in Pasig, Davao courts

Apollo Quiboloy

AFP / Manman Dejeto

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday said that prosecutors from the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office have recommended the filing of charges against doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy.

This was announced by the DOJ on Tuesday, two weeks after it reversed the indictment that was formerly dismissed by the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office in 2020 as the agency granted the petition for review on the case.

“The Department of Justice is dedicated to the enforcement of our laws and the protection of our children from exploitation and abuse. This case underscores our commitment to hold accountable those who would harm our society's most vulnerable. Let this serve as a reminder that no individual, regardless of their position, is above the law," the DOJ said, quoting Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Quiboloy, along with Jackielyn W. Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid C. Canada, and Sylvia Cemanes, faced charges of sexual abuse and "other acts of abuse" under Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, as filed by the Davao City Prosecutors Office.

The preacher and other individuals were also charged with qualified human trafficking under Republic Act No. 9208. The Davao City Prosecutor’s Office filed the separate information at the DOJ main office, which the Justice department endorsed to a Pasig City court.

Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano, spokesperson of the DOJ, said that charges were filed in a Davao City court last week, with additional charges filed in the Pasig City court on Monday.

The charges filed in Davao come with a bail set at P180,000 for sexual abuse and P80,000 for maltreatment. The charges brought before the Pasig Court are deemed non-bailable, according to Clavano.

If Quiboloy is found guilty of qualified human trafficking, a non-bailable offense, Quiboloy may face life imprisonment and a fine of not less than P2 million but not more than P5 million pesos.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri signed the arrest warrant against Quiboloy earlier, following the preacher's citation for contempt. This happened due to his failure to appear in the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality's probe into alleged abuses by his organization, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).

Quiboloy, a close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, faced several charges including sex trafficking, child sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling when a federal grand jury in California indicted him in November 2021.

The 2021 indictment mentioned Quiboloy obtaining fraudulent visas for the members of the KOJC to enter the United States.

In February 2022, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation also placed the doomsday preacher on the most wanted list for “his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme."