Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, shrouded in scarves, along with other accused individuals, is presented during a briefing at the PNP Headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City on September 9, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN news

MANILA — Televangelist Apollo Quiboloy will remain at Camp Crame, despite a court order for his transfer to the New Quezon City Jail, the Philippine National Police said Tuesday. 

The Regional Trial Court Branch (RTC) 106 ordered the transfer of Quiboloy and his co-accused Cresente Canada to the jail in Bagong Silangan, Quezon City from the police Custodial Center in Camp Crame. 

Apollo Quiboloy presented to media after arrest

Judge Noel Parel also ordered the move of Quiboloy's three other co-accused — Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, and Sylvia Cemanes — to the Quezon City Jail-Female Dormitory at Camp Karingal. 

But PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the police would inform the court that there is a separate order from the  Pasig RTC for Quiboloy and his co-accused to remain in PNP custody.

"We don't want to run the risk na ilipat sa QC tapos mag-bail sila at wala na pong control doon ang PNP. We really have to harmonize the orders na ito," Fajardo said during a press briefing. 

"We don't expect any movement today because nga magpa-file ng comment ang PNP probably to inform RTC 106 na there is an existing order from the RTC Pasig dahil non-bailable po yun. Again we don't want to run the risk na kapag inilipat sila doon since bailable naman po at nakapag-bail na nga sila before doon so yun yung iniiwasan natin na mairelease sila sa custody so I don't want to preempt the action ng CIDG," she added. 

Quiboloy faces child and sexual abuse charges in QC RTC, as well as a non-bailable qualified human trafficking case in Pasig RTC.

Fajardo noted that prior to the transfer of the child and sexual abuse case from Davao to the QC court, other accused individuals had posted bail, except for Quiboloy.

The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is also coordinating the schedule, as both arraignments in Quezon City and Pasig courts are set on Friday.

Fajardo said the arraignment in Quezon City would be conducted via video conference, while the Pasig court required physical presence.

The PNP is coordinating with the DOJ regarding the situation.

QUIBOLOY 'ADJUSTING'

The official also mentioned that Quiboloy was in good condition at the PNP Custodial Center, although he was still adjusting.

Fajardo said Quiboloy received no special treatment. He and his co-accused are detained in separate rooms without air conditioning and only had electric fans for ventilation.

Cellphones and other gadgets were banned. 

"Tig-iisa isa doon sa mga selda at hindi nakikita nila ang bawat isa," Fajardo said. 

"Kanina mga bandang 7 a.m. ay napayagan tayo na bumisita sa kanila… Sabi naman niya (Quiboloy) nag-a-adjust [siya], siyempre bagong environment. But according to him nakapagpahinga naman siya at medyo mainit lang daw," she added. 

Fajardo mentioned that the PNP and interior department were studying who is entitled to the P10-million reward earlier offered for information that would lead to Quiboloy's capture.

PUSH FOR MILITARY CUSTODY

Meanwhile, The Department of National Defense (DND) on Tuesday filed a comment opposing the bid of Quiboloy's lawyers to transfer his custody to the military.  

Assistant Secretary Eric Dy of the DND's Legal and Legislative Affairs told ABS-CBN News he filed the motion before the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 159. 

In an earlier statement, the DND said military facilities are subject to strict operational security protocols and not suitable for custody of suspects in criminal cases.

"The Department of National Defense will oppose any motion to have Pastor Quiboloy transferred to AFP custody," it said.

DND rejects move to transfer Quiboloy to military custody

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it would respect the court decision on Quiboloy's custody.   

"Handa naman tayo, but not really honing in on particular individuals. We have facilities in place and we would be respecting the role of the PNP in this and we defer to what will come out from [the court]," AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla told reporters in a regular media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo. 

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ had cited supposed threats to Quiboloy's life in its bid to move him to military custody. 

"I could not theorize nor speculate on their next action or their [request] on this. We respect the PNP being the lead on this. And the AFP will support whatever role that is going to be asked for us to play moving forward," Padilla said. 

A self-proclaimed "Appointed Son of God", Quiboloy surrendered in Davao City on Sunday after a massive two-week police search of his sect's sprawling compound.

Footage: Actual surrender, arrest of Apollo Quiboloy

Quiboloy, whose sect claims millions of followers, is facing charges in the Philippines of child abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking.

The US charged the preacher in 2021 with sex trafficking of girls and women aged 12-25 to work as personal assistants, who were allegedly required to have sex with him.

Who is Apollo Quiboloy?

Quiboloy is also sought by US authorities for bulk cash smuggling and a scheme that brought church members to the United States using fraudulently obtained visas.

They were then forced to solicit donations for a bogus charity, raising funds that were instead used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders, according to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Philippines is not currently looking to extradite Quiboloy, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday. 

Mga tumulong sa pagtatago ni Quiboloy sasampahan ng kaso: DILG

Filipinos urge fairness after Apollo Quiboloy's arrest

— With reports from Raya Capulong, Michael Delizo, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse