THE Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) has approved the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) plea to transfer the child abuse case filed against religious leader Apollo Quiboloy from the Davao City regional trial court to a court in Metro Manila.
Court administrator Raul Villanueva said he has submitted his office’s recommendation to the Supreme Court (SC), which would make the final ruling on the matter.
Villanueva, however, declined to say what particular court in Metro Manila will handle the case.
“Yes, the OCA already submitted its recommendation and it’s up to the Court to decide whether to approve it or not,” Villanueva said.
The SC, though, is in recess. The regular en banc sessions will resume on May 13.
SC spokesperson Camille Ting said the magistrates are on their “decision writing period“ from April 22 until May 10.
Ting was quick to add, though, that the justice in charge of the matter may recommend action on the OCA recommendation even if the Court is on a break.
“The justices in charge can always recommend actions on cases, and the divisions or en Banc can issue resolutions if the division chair or Chief Justice (for the en Banc) concurs with the recommended action. This will then be confirmed during the next regular session,” she said.
Last week, Ting said the magistrates cannot yet decide on the DOJ request as they are still waiting for the recommendation from the OCA.
Ting made the clarification the same day that DOJ assistant secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano told a press briefing in Malacañang that the SC has approved the transfer of the Davao case to the Pasig City regional trial court. He later on said the case will be moved to Quezon City because of the heavy case load in Pasig.
Early last month, Davao City RTC Branch 12 Presiding Judge Dante Baguio issued an arrest warrant against Quiboloy for violating Republic Act 7610, or the Anti-Child Abuse Act, for sexual abuse of a minor.
Aside from the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), also ordered arrested were Jackiely W. Roy, Pauline Canada, Cresente Canada, Ingrid C.Canada and Sylvia Cemanes.
On April 11, Pasig RTC Branch 159 Acting Presiding Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa also issued a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy and his co-accused for violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
The case before the Pasig court is a non-bailable offense.
