Quiboloy camp wants to comment on DOJ request for change of trial venue

The camp of fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy is seeking an opportunity to comment on the request by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to transfer the trial venue of child abuse cases from a Davao City court to Pasig City.

In a letter to Court Administrator Raul Villanueva dated April 26, Quiboloy's lawyers asked that the letter from Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin requesting the change of venue to be treated as a "petition requiring verification from the petitioner and docketed as such."

This petition would be "for action" by the Supreme Court, the lawyers said, "in accordance with accepted procedures for petitions for changes of venue, with (Quiboloy) furnished a copy of the petition and given time in order to allow (Quiboloy) the opportunity to be heard personally, or through counsel, with respect to the Petition."

Saying that they only heard about the DOJ's request through news reports, Quiboloy's counsels said that a change of trial venue "should only be allowed when it is necessary to secure a fair and impartial trial, or to prevent a miscarriage of justice."

GMA News Online has requested comment from the Department of Justice regarding the matter.

In the Davao cases, charges were filed against Quiboloy for allegedly violating Section 5(b) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and Section 10(a) of the same act.

As for the Pasig cases, the DOJ earlier said that it filed qualified human trafficking charges against Quiboloy under Section 4 (a) of Republic Act 9208, as amended, against Quiboloy.

The Pasig court has issued an arrest warrant against Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) religious group, in relation to the human trafficking cases. Meanwhile, the Davao court similarly issued an arrest warrant against Quiboloy and five others over the child abuse charges.

Four of the co-accused turned themselves over to authorities, while another, Cresente Canada, was arrested by NBI agents in connection with the Davao cases.

All five have posted bail while Quiboloy remains at large.

The Senate and House of Representatives have also issued subpoenas against Quiboloy, summoning him to separate hearings.

In the United States, an outstanding arrest warrant for multiple charges including sex trafficking, fraud, and cash smuggling was also issued against Quiboloy and his co-accused by Central District of California Judge Terry Hatter Jr. last March.

Last Friday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) revoked Quiboloy's license to own and possess firearms. — VDV, GMA Integrated News