Transfer of Quiboloy sex case to Pasig court sought

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking the transfer to Pasig City of the sexual and child abuse complaints lodged against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy in a Davao City court.

- DAPHNE GALVEZ

DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano yesterday said the transfer is meant to allow the same team of prosecutors to “prosecute both cases together and jointly.”

Quiboloy is also facing a nonbailable human trafficking case before a Pasig City court.

Last week, the DOJ said it wrote to the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), which is under the Supreme Court (SC), to ask for the transfer of venue of the cases filed in Davao City. 

According to SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting, the high tribunal has yet to act on the DOJ’s request.

Ting said Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo has not yet received the recommendation of the OCA on the matter, to which the letter of the DOJ had been referred for evaluation, report and recommendation.

As a matter of procedure, the OCA makes a recommendation on the request made but the SC ultimately decides on petitions for change in venue, Ting explained.