Quiboloy cases may be transferred

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) announced on Thursday that it has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to transfer the criminal cases lodged against wanted televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy in Davao City to Pasig City, where courts are also trying other cases against him.

“We [filed to] transfer the cases from Davao to Pasig City, so that the same team of prosecutors may be able to prosecute both cases together,” DoJ Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV said in a Malacañang briefing.

Later in a Viber message to reporters, Mr. Clavano said the DoJ received word that “due to the heavy case load” of the courts in Pasig City, Mr. Quiboloy’s cases in Davao might be transferred to Quezon City instead.

But SC Spokesperson Camille Sue Mae L. Ting clarified that the High Court is yet to make a decision on the matter.

In a Viber group chat with reporters, she said: “The Chief Justice has not yet received the recommendation of the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) on this matter. He earlier referred the letter of DoJ Sec. Remulla to the OCA for evaluation, report, and recommendation.”

Mr. Clavano also confirmed that Mr. Quiboloy is still in the Philippines.

Mr. Quiboloy, a spiritual adviser of former president Rodrigo R. Duterte, is the subject of separate arrest warrants issued by the Pasig City and Davao City courts before which he faces child and sexual abuse, and qualified human trafficking charges. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana