A Davao court has issued a warrant of arrest against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) controversial leader Apollo Quiboloy and five others over charges of child abuse.
This has been confirmed by Sen. Risa Hotiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality,
In a two-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 order read.
“[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 doomsday preacher is currently 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 PHP 180,000 for sexual assault and PHP 80,000 for maltreatment.
Aside from Quiboloy, the accused also includes his five other associates: Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada and Sylvia Cemañes.
They are also facing Qualified Human Trafficking charges under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended before a Pasig court.
The charges, previously dismissed by the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office in 2020, were overturned by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Last month, the Senate also issued an arrest warrant against the preacher for his non-appearance in the probe of the alleged abuses of Quiboloy and his “church” the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
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."
