MANILA – Lawyers representing embattled Apollo Quiboloy on Wednesday expressed confidence in judicial proceedings initiated against their client before the courts, where prosecutors have charged the influential Mindanao-based pastor with human trafficking and exploitation of minors.
“We now place full reliance on the Judiciary as the final nation of the people’s rights, confident that the rights of an innocent man such as Pastor Quiboloy will be vindicated, and his good name finally cleared,” Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, one of Quiboloy’s counsels, said in a statement.
Topacio, however, declined to say whether his client, who is also the subject of an arrest warrant by the Senate, will surrender before the courts.
The Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office has formally charged Quiboloy, along with five others, before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court for qualified trafficking, a non-bailable offense.
DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano confirmed Quiboloy’s indictment in Pasig in a message to the press and also disclosed that criminal charges have been lodged against Quiboloy before the Davao Regional Trial Court, including violations of Section 5(b) and Section 10(a) of Republic Act (RA) No. 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
Charged with Quiboloy in the case concerning Section 10(a) of RA 7610 are Jackielyn W. Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid C. Canada, and Sylvia Cemanes. (PNA)
