The Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 159 has denied the petitions for bail of Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused in qualified human trafficking cases.
In the resolution of the court promulgated on July 20, 2025, the petitions for bail of Quiboloy, Sylvia Cemañes, Paulene Canada, Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada and Ingrid Canada were denied because the prosecution has shown that the evidence of their guilt is strong.
“Thus, given these pieces of evidence against all the accused at this point which establish a great presumption of guilt for purposes of bail, the court must deny their petitions for bail,” said Acting Presiding Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa.
The court noted the different acts supposedly performed by the accused which directly or indirectly contributed to the commission of the crime of human trafficking.
Quiboloy, as the leader of the KOJC, was the central figure of authority who convinced the victim to become a full-time miracle worker.
It was also Quiboloy who supposedly subjected the victim to sexual exploitation under the so-called “bodily connection ministry.”
Cemañes, for her part, initiated the recruitment by persuading the victim’s father to allow his two daughters to join KOJC’s youth congress.
“Consistent with the doctrine on implied conspiracy, these overt acts of all the accused against XXX who was a minor child at that time are sufficient to prove the existence of a tacit understanding and common intent to commit the unlawful acts complained of,” Estacio-Montesa said.
The court, however, cautioned that the resolution does not determine the ultimate outcome of the cases.
“There remains a long process ahead, and both parties have the opportunity to present further evidence,” Estacio-Montesa said.
Quiboloy was arrested in Davao City on September 8, 2024, and has since pleaded not guilty to charges of qualified human trafficking.
The self-styled “Appointed Son of God” was accused of trafficking female KOJC members, some as young as 12 years old, to sell goods and raise funds for the church.
Some female members have accused Quiboloy of molestation, alleging the pastor said it was their way of getting into heaven.
In March 2025, the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 159 denied Quiboloy’s request for a house arrest due to lack of merit.
