Sara: Quiboloy deserves fair trial

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has defended controversial Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy amid measures by lawmakers to make him show up during their inquiries into the pastor’s involvement in alleged human trafficking, sexual abuse and those involving the franchise of his broadcast network Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

In a statement broadcast by SMNI, Duterte called the attempts of the Senate and House of Representatives to hold the sect leader accountable an “injustice and outrageous.”

“My countrymen, I stand in solidarity with the call for the application of law and justice in the future issue of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and Sonshine Media Network (International). During the hearings, it seems that Pastor Quiboloy’s guilt has already been decided even though these hearings were based only on the allegations of witnesses who concealed their identity and could not prove their credibility,” the Vice President said.

The KOJC is being investigated by the Senate for allegations of rape and acts forcing church members to beg or sell goods on the streets to fund Quiboloy’s lifestyle.

Meanwhile, SMNI is being investigated by the House of Representatives for alleged franchise violations.

Duterte and her family have strong ties with Quiboloy, who is a friend and “spiritual adviser” of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The Vice President claimed that many believe that what Quiboloy is experiencing is a form of “persecution.”

“Many of us believe that what Pastor Quiboloy is suffering now is outrageous and unfair. Apart from the hearings that appear to be leading nowhere, it is also outrageous to indefinitely suspend the broadcasting network SMNI – an issue of media freedom,” the Vice President said.

“Incidents and allegations like these are no joke. He deserves to be given a fair fight and in the right court… Justice and the truth cannot be achieved in trial by publicity, but by a day in court,” she added.

In a related development, Quiboloy’s camp yesterday denied that the KOJC leader has imposed 17 conditions for him to attend the Senate hearing.

In a radio interview, Ferdinand Topacio, one of Quiboloy’s