Quiboloy pleads ‘not guilty’ in child sexual abuse case

Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, founder of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), pleaded “not guilty” when he was arraigned Friday afternoon, September 13, by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on a criminal charge of child sexual abuse.

“Apollo C. Quiboloy and the other suspects have pleaded their innocence,” said attorney Israelito Torreon, one of the pastor’s legal advisers.

Torreon said the court also set the preliminary hearing of the case for October 2 and the marking of the evidence for October 26.

“That is the only information I can give you, because the procedure is strictly confidential,” Torreon explained.

Quiboloy and his co-defendants were charged with “other forms of child abuse” under Section 10(a) of Republic Act No. 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

The case before the RTC in Quezon City involved alleged sexual abuse of a minor who was only 17 years old in 2011.

Earlier on Friday morning, September 13, Quibuloy pleaded “not guilty” to the human trafficking charge filed by government prosecutors at the Pasig City RTC.

Quiboloy remains in custody at the Philippine National Police (PNP) detention center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

His child abuse case was originally filed in the RTC of Davao City. However, the Supreme Court (SC), upon the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ), transferred the venue of the case to the Quezon City RTC/.