Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) legal counsel lawyer Israelito Torreon denied the existence of the “Angels of Death” within the KOJC compound and described the claims of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as “preposterous.”
“The claims regarding the so-called “Angels of Death” within the Kingdom of Jesus Christ are equally untrue and absolutely preposterous. These allegations are nothing but another attempt to smear the congregation. It is clear that they are laying the groundwork for future, fabricated charges—perhaps even murder or other similar accusations—based on these concocted stories,” Torreon said.
Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) Director Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III affirmed that the PNP will investigate into the claim that KOJC founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy had a private army known as the “Angels of Death.”
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Acting City Director Col. Hansel Marantan first brought up the infamous “Angels of Death” citing five minors who were allegedly sexually assaulted by Quiboloy in a press conference last week.
“The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above All Names (KOJC) is a community built on peace, love, and faith. Let me remind everyone that during the challenging 16-day KOJC siege, unlike them who were all in full battle gear, the authorities were met not with firearms or assault weapons, but with prayers, food, and water. That is who the Kingdom Nation is,” Torreon said.
Torreon stressed that the KOJC does not have “Angels of Death”, rather prayer warriors, which are composed of men and women dedicated to spiritual battle, not violence.
“It is their faith that sustains them, even in times of persecution, much like the trials faced by early Christians, or even the struggles of other religious groups, like the Islamic Ummah, who have faced hardships while holding onto their faith,” he said.
Torreon said as they move forward, they continue to place their trust in the judicial process.
“As a lawyer, I have the utmost belief and faith in our judiciary and that justice and truth will ultimately prevail,” he said.
Meanwhile, Torreon said that the accusations of abuse, sexual misconduct, child abuse, and other similar complaints are nothing more than political attacks and malicious propaganda.
This developed after more alleged victims of abuse continue to surface.
“We urge the public not to fall prey to these false narratives, attempting to manipulate perceptions and create a biased storyline,” Torreon said.
He said the allegations made by the victims are baseless and false.
“There is not a shred of truth to these claims—not even a scintilla. We call on these individuals —if they truly exist—to examine their conscience and make sure their claims are rooted in truth, not in the pursuit of personal gain. Do not trade your integrity for money, as it would be a grave injustice to yourself and others. Those who manipulate you for their selfish and corrupt purposes will abandon you once you no longer serve their interests. Make sure that you will stand by your truth until the very end because we too will be forced to take legal action and file the necessary criminal charges against those who tarnish the reputation, not only of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy but also that of the entire Kingdom Nation because we know what is the truth,” Torreon said.
Torreon said they will face these accusations head-on and without fear and cited the 1987 Constitution, in Section 14, Article III (Bill of Rights) provides that:
“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved, and shall enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel, to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against him, to have a speedy, impartial, and public trial, to meet the witnesses face to face, and to have compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence in his behalf.”
Torreon also reminded the public not to rush to conclusions and remain critical of the information they read online.
“The fact remains that my client is innocent until he is proven otherwise and the burden of proof rests with the prosecution, who must establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Pastor Quiboloy’s innocence, along with that of the other accused, will be proven in the proper legal arena, where the truth will prevail,” he said.
