Davao court issues arrest warrant vs. Quiboloy

A Davao court has issued a warrant of arrest against Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy and five others over charges of child abuse.

In a 2-page order, the court said reasonable time has lapsed and it has not yet received a resolution on the motion for reconsideration filed by Quiboloy’s camp before the Department of Justice on the arrest warrant it issued in March.

“The court mindful of the equally situated rights of both the prosecution and defense, which may include among others, the speedy disposition and speedy trial of cases, either of which or both, said right imposes an imperative task that this court is indebted to fulfill,” the Court said.

“[A]s what was earlier determined upon judicious examination and perusal of information where it found probable cause, let the warrants of arrest already issued be implemented immediately,” it added.

The order was shared by Senator Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.

GMA News Online has sought confirmation from the Department of Justice but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

Quiboloy is facing charges under Section 5(b) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and under Section 10(a) of the same act.

Prosecutors said the bail was set at P180,000 for sexual assault and P80,000 for maltreatment.

Charged with Quiboloy were Jackielyn W. Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid C. Canada, and Sylvia Cemane under Section 10(a) of RA 7610.

They are also facing Qualified Human Trafficking charges under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended before a Pasig court.

Meanwhile, Hontiveros welcomed the order, saying Quiboloy’s days were “numbered.”

“Pinapanawagan ko din kay Quiboloy na huwag nang mag-inarte. Ang dami na niyang ginawa para takbuhan ang obligasyon niya sa batas,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

(I am calling on Quiboloy to stop the drama. He has done too much for him to run away from his obligation before the law.)

“He should just cooperate and properly answer the accusations hurled against him. Kung walang kasalanan, hindi kailangang magtago (if he is innocent, there is no need to hide),” she added.

Hontiveros had earlier called for the immediate issuance of a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy, saying the latter’s response to the Senate panel’s show cause order was “nowhere near satisfactory.“

Quiboloy is also included in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s wanted list “for his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders.”

Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader has denied the accusations against him. —VAL, GMA Integrated News