Lawyers for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) said Monday they filed a motion in court requesting that its leader, televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, be transferred to the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from the national police.
The move is out of concern for Quiboloy’s safety, KOJC chief legal counsel Israelito Torreon said in an interview after his visit to the pastor’s detention cell at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“We filed a motion for the transfer of his custody to the AFP citing among others security reasons and we are hoping that the court would grant the same or at the very least a house arrest knowing that he is already 74 years old and we are hoping that any of those would be granted,” Torreon told the media.
When asked about the possible security risks to Quiboloy’s life, Torreon noted that the KOJC leader is known for his fight against the New People’s Army (NPA) and is an active supporter of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Torreon also insisted that Quiboloy was not arrested by authorities but voluntarily surrendered instead.
”He sensed na parang determinado ata yung heneral na naka-assigned to really make the lives of his members miserable to he decided to make the ultimate sacrifice of surrendering para matapos na po yung sufferings ng kanyang miyembro,” he said.
According to Torreon, the KOJC leader is ready to face the court and prove his innocence.
”He is hopeful na since he already submitted to the custody of the law that the proceedings against him would be fast-tracked and so that he would be able to prove his innocence in court,” Torreon said.
Torreon also revealed that Quiboloy snuck into the KOJC compound in September.
“Actually, after September 7 when I received the text – and information na nasabi sakin, na he had to meet his leaders again and he accordingly sneaked into the compound last late in September and he met his leaders and that is why on September 8 there was already a decision that he will surrender and on September 8 in the morning I was informed about it and in front of the ISAFP officers and the PNP – the decision was made. Prior to September 7, wala siya sa compound (KOJC),”Torreon said.
