Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, leader of religious sect Kingdom of Jesus Christ, leads the prayers at a miting de avance on May 7, 2016. Fernando G. Sepe, Jr., ABS-CBN News/File  MANILA — The Supreme Court has ordered that the child abuse and sexual abuse cases of Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy be transferred from the Davao City Regional Trial Court to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

In a statement released Tuesday, the Supreme Court said the Second Division granted the request of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to move the venue of the two cases, pursuant to its constitutional power to order a change of venue to avoid a miscarriage of justice.

The Supreme Court cited compelling reasons to justify the transfer of venue as the cases involve public interest, noting that Pastor Quiboloy is a well-known and influential religious leader in Davao.

“As this could cause local biases and a strong possibility that witnesses cannot freely testify due to fear and influence of the accused, the court found it prudent and judicious to order the transfer of the cases to Quezon City,” the SC added.

The DOJ earlier asked the Supreme Court to transfer the child abuse and sexual abuse cases of Quiboloy and his co-accused for violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act which were filed before the Davao City Regional Trial Court.

DOJ asks SC to transfer Quiboloy case to Pasig

The Supreme Court directed the Clerk of Court of the Davao RTC Branch 12 to forward the entire records of the cases to the Office of the Executive Judge of the Quezon City RTC within three days from notice.

The Quezon City RTC Executive Judge was directed to raffle the cases among the judges in the station to determine who shall decide the cases with utmost dispatch.

“The Court further directed judges in Davao City and in other stations in Mindanao where future related cases involving Quiboloy and his co-accused may be filed to motu proprio order the transmittal of the records to the Office of the Clerk of Court of the RTC, Quezon City and Metropolitan Trial Court, Quezon City, as the case may be,” the SC said.

The transferred cases to Quezon City are related to the non-bailable qualified trafficking case of Quiboloy and his co-accused in violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court.

Asked about the concerns of Quiboloy’s camp, Supreme Court Spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting justified the decision of the en banc.

Atty. Ting said in view of the urgent nature of the request of the Department of Justice and the involvement of public interest, the Office of the Court Administrator dispensed with the requirements outlined in the Office of the Court Administrator Circular No. 162-2022A.

“This includes the need for comments from the concerned judge and parties to be affected by the transfer of venue,” Ting said.

Ting also noted that the Supreme Court has done the same thing in several cases, including the transfer of cases in connection with the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.

In a statement, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla welcomed the approval of the Supreme Court of their request for venue transfer.

“This is a major breakthrough in our pursuit for justice as we relentlessly delve into the truth behind all these accusations against the embattled church leader,” Remulla said.

Remulla said compelling reasons for the transfer included the influence of the accused in Davao City, security issues, and public interest. 

“Witnesses, judges, our prosecutors and their families will no longer have to fear for their safety, the wheels of justice can now freely roll through this journey,” Remulla said.