Quiboloy camp considers withdrawing appeal over transfer to Pasig prison

The camp of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy plans to withdraw its appeal against his transfer to the Pasig City Jail.

“But it turned out that maybe there was no point in fighting him. I’m happy to talk about the lawsuits. So we’re just going to, you know, take it as is,” Atty. Israelto Torreon, Quiboloy’s legal counsel, said in a tense interview at the Justice Department in Manila.

(But it turns out there might have been no point in fighting him. It seems the prosecution really wants him there. So we’ll just, you know, take things as is.)

Quiboloy was transferred from the Philippine National Police (PNP) detention center in Camp Crame to the Pasig City Jail in November.

Torreon said the Pasig court has yet to act on his motion for reconsideration.

“’Yun nga kasi, we might waste a lot of papers if we insist on our ano sana— Ang sa amin naman yung security niya. We previously thought he would be safer at Camp Crame given the threats to his safety,” he said.

(We risk wasting a lot of paperwork if we insist. Our only concern is his safety. We previously thought he would be safer at Camp Crame given the threats against him.)

Although Torreon said they still thought Quiboloy would be safer at Camp Crame, he reiterated that it might be “pointless” to insist.

“So you might as well go with the flow, persevere and overcome,” he said.

Quiboloy was brought to the Philippine Heart Center on November 8 after complaining of chest discomfort on November 7.

According to Torreon, Quiboloy’s condition is now “normal.”

Quiboloy, who calls himself the “Son of God,” is currently facing a non-bailable charge of human trafficking under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. No. 9208, as amended, in a court of Pasig.

He also faces charges under Section 5(b) and Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children from Abuse, Exploitation Act and discrimination.

Torreon was at the DOJ to attend a preliminary investigation into the complaint filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte against former Interior and Local Government Secretary Behur Abalos and others.

Abalos filed his counter-affidavit to the complaint, saying the accusations are baseless.

Meanwhile, Torreon said some complaints filed against some KOJC members that were initially filed in Davao were refiled before the DOJ.

He said the next hearing for both complaints would take place on December 16. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News