By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Justice (DOJ) believes embattled pastor Apollo Quiboloy is still in the Philippines.
Speaking at a Palace press briefing Thursday, DOJ Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano said they have received information indicating that Quiboloy is still in the country.
“We do have information that he is still within the country unless there are new developments from the police ‘no. But, as far as our information is concerned at the DOJ, he is currently still in the country,” Clavano said.
Two local courts, in Davao City and Pasig City, have ordered the arrest of Quiboloy, founder and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
Quiboloy is facing sexual and child abuse charges in Davao City, while a non-bailable qualified human trafficking case was lodged against him in Pasig CIty.
Aside from these cases, the KOJC leader was also indicted in the United States in November 2021 for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children, and is currently on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s wanted list.
The DOJ official also said the prosecutors have already requested the court for a hold departure order (HDO) against Quiboloy.
“That [HDO] has been brought up and I believe the prosecutors have already filed their motion to issue a hold departure order –these are normal legal processes that the prosecutors are very used to,” he said.
Currently, Quiboloy is the subject of an immigration lookout bulletin order or ILBO.
An ILBO is different from a court-issued HDO, as the former only directs the Bureau of Immigration to be on the lookout for the subject and to verify the status of a case against the subject person and not to restrict an individual from leaving the country.
Davao cases to be transferred to Quezon City
Meanwhile, Clavano said the DOJ is eyeing the transfer of Quiboloy’s Davao cases to a court in Quezon City, instead of Pasig as earlier reported.
“I just got word that our request to (have the cases transferred to) Pasig may be moved to QC (Quezon City) instead due to the heavy case load in Pasig,” Clavano told reporters, noting the transfer of venue will require permission from the Supreme Court.
He said the DOJ requested the transfer of the Davao cases to Metro Manila “so that the same team of prosecutors may be able to prosecute both cases together.” (with a report from Benjamin Pulta)
