Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy (Photo courtesy of PNP Public Information Office)
MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday said it at least eight individuals have come out to file fresh complaints against religious leader Apollo Quiboloy.
The DOJ will evaluate the new complainants-witnesses “to preclude the possibility of infiltration” by Quiboloy supporters out to sabotage the government’s cases against the 74-year-old pastor, Undersecretary Nicolas Felix Ty told the media.
“May mga lumutang na sa Davao, may mga lumutang din sa ibang regions ng Mindanao at sa amin dito sa head office (in Manila), may mga nag-contact na upang makiramdam kung ano pwede nilang gawin (Some came out from Davao and other regions of Mindanao, and here at the DOJ, some have contacted us to inquire what they can do),” Ty said.
He urged other victims and witnesses to come forward and assured that the DOJ would assist them.
“Basta para sa amin, ang mga biktima, bukas kami na tanggapin, marinig ang inyong mga kwento. At kung handa na kayong magkaso, tutulungan namin kayo na mag-kaso (For the victims, we are ready to receive you and hear your stories. And whenever you are ready to file cases, we will assist you),” Ty said.
Quiboloy, founder of the Davao City-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ the Name Above all Else (KOJC), faces charges of child abuse and trafficking in the Philippines, as well as sex trafficking charges in the United States.
Ty said the DOJ also coordinated with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in connection with possible complaints against coddlers of Quiboloy.
“Nationwide naman ang sakop ng mga state prosecutor pagdating sa preliminary investigation. So, para sa amin, kung gusto nilang ituloy ang kaso na ‘yan laban sa mga nagkanlong kay Pastor Quiboloy, maari nilang ihain ‘yan dito sa (The scope of state prosecutors is nationwide when it comes to preliminary investigation. For us, if they want to pursue the case against those who coddled Quiboloy, they can file it here at the) head office,” Ty said. (PNA)
