📷Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy
PINAYAGAN ng Korte Suprema ang kahilingan ni Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla na ilipat ang mga kasong sexual abuse at qualified human trafficking laban kay Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder at alleged child sex trafficker Apollo Quiboloy sa Quezon City mula sa Davao City.
“Pursuant to its constitutional power to order a change of venue to avoid a miscarriage of justice, the Supreme Court’s Second Division yesterday granted the request of Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla to move the venue of two criminal cases against Apollo C. Quiboloy from the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Davao City to the RTC of Quezon City,” ayon sa kalatas ng Korte Suprema.
“The Court found compelling reasons to justify the transfer of venue as the cases involve public interest, with the accused, a well-known religious leader, being influential in the area. As this could cause local biases and a strong possibility that witnesses cannot freely testify due to fear and influence of the accused, the Court found it prudent and judicious to order the transfer of the cases to Quezon City,” anang SC.
Inatasan ng Kataas-taasang Hukuman na i-raffle ng Quezon City RTC Executive Judge ang mga kaso upang mabatid kung sinong hukom ang magde-desisyon ‘with utmost dispatch.”
Nagbigay rin ng direktiba ang Korte Suprema sa mga hukom sa Davao City at iba pang istasyon sa Mindanao na may kaso si Quiboloy at mga kapwa akusadp na maghain ng motu proprio order sa transmittal ng records sa Office of the Clerk of Court of the RTC, Quezon City at Metropolitan Trial Court, Quezon City.
Sa kanyang liham sa Korte Suprema na may petsang 4 Abril 2024, hiniling ni Remulla ang transfer of venue ng mga kaso bunsod ng : (1) the significance of the subject cases extends beyond the local context, touching on broader national policies, public interest, and security concerns; and (2) the preservation of integrity of the proceedings as there is a likelihood of local biases potentially affecting the trial’s impartiality in Davao City, and pursuant to Article VIII, Section 5 (4) of the 1987 Constitution which provides that the Court has the power to order a change of venue or place of trial to forestall a miscarriage of justice where there are serious and weighty reasons present which would prevent the court of original jurisdiction from conducting a fair and impartial trial.” (ROSE NOVENARIO)