MANILA, Philippines – Doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy has pleaded not guilty to the crime of trafficking as he finally faced a court on Friday, September 13, after an intense months-long manhunt.
Quiboloy, who’s under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP), arrived at the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 159 before 8 am for his arraignment. This is part of the proceedings where the court reads the criminal charge to the defendant to inform them about the cases filed against them. Since Quiboloy pleaded not guilty, the case will now proceed to trial.
In this Pasig case, Quiboloy and five others — Jackielyn Roy, Sylvia Cemañes, Cresente, Paulene, and Ingrid Canada — are charged with trafficking, which falls under Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. Trafficking is non-bailable.
Quiboloy faces another set of cases, child and sexual abuse, pending before the Quezon City RTC. He will be arraigned on Friday afternoon via teleconference, according to the PNP. These are bailable charges — P180,000 for sexual abuse of minors, and P80,000 for child cruelty.
Friday’s arraignment was the first time Quiboloy faced the court, since he did not personally appear before the tribunals when his warrants were returned to the court on Monday.
Quiboloy was taken into custody Sunday night, September 8, after two weeks of protracted police operations at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City. Police said that Quiboloy was given a 24-hour ultimatum Friday before cops entered a crucial building in the complex where he was believed to be hiding.
The charges in QC were transferred from Davao after the Supreme Court approved prosecutors’ motion for a transfer. This is done in cases where prosecutors believe security is at risk in that judicial region, or the defendant has influence there.
Quiboloy is also wanted in the United States for sexual trafficking of children. Trial for the other defendants in custody are already ongoing in California. The US will have to request for an extradition if it wants Quiboloy in its jurisdiction and to try him in US courts.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the preacher must face his cases first in the country before any talk of an extradition to the US.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Quiboloy “will be tried first in the Philippines for crimes he committed here, and if convicted, must first serve his sentence before granting any request for extradition by the US.” – Rappler.com