Rape, human trafficking raps vs Quiboloy, 5 church members dismissed

DAVAO CITY - The Davao City Prosecutor's Office has dismissed complaints of rape, child abuse, and human trafficking charges filed by a former member of Kingdom of Jesus Christ against the group's founder Apollo Quiboloy and 5 other church members.

In a joint resolution issued on June 29 but was only released Tuesday, the city prosecutor cleared Quiboloy of rape and also dismissed complaints of child abuse and human trafficking against the pastor and Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Pauline Canada, Ingrid Canada and Sylvia Cemañes.

Lawyer Israelito Torreon, the religious leader's legal counsel, said the complaints were dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence.

"For 2 years she was here in the Kingdom, she never divulged such factor or her own sister living here, and only reported such 6 years after the fact and with no medical evidence, no medical certificate, no police report, no other evidences that would corroborate her claims and no other physical evidence," he said.

The camp of the Christian sect will file criminal complaints against the woman for making "untruthful allegations."

"Indeed, malicious prosecution is a ground for filing a case on damages against a complainant who actually alleges untruthful allegations against a certain person especially that person is respected in the society" Torreon said.

Lawyer Ian Enterina, the complainant's legal counsel, said his client was willing to file a joint motion for reconsideration.

"We defer issuing a statement pending receipt of the joint resolution but my client has long prepared for any temporary legal setbacks and she is willing to file a joint motion for reconsideration, if necessary and even a petition for review to reverse any unfavorable resolution," he said.

In December 2019, the woman filed complaints of rape, child abuse and human trafficking against the Davao City-based televangelist and 5 other church members.

The woman claimed she was raped by the religious leader in 2014 while she was a scholar of Quiboloy's church. She was 17 at that time.

However, Quiboloy's camp felt some people were behind the complainant to malign his reputation.

Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed "appointed son of God," is a longtime friend of President Rodrigo Duterte. - Report from Berchan Louie Angchay, ABS-CBN News