The Court of Appeals (CA) has issued an order freezing the bank accounts and assets of Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), and others.
In a 48-page decision, the appeals court issued an order freezing the pastor’s 10 bank accounts, seven properties, five motor vehicles and one aircraft.
The order also affected the bank accounts of KOJC and Swara Sug Media Corporation, which runs Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
SMNI is the media arm of KOJC.
The court said it found reasonable grounds to believe that Quiboloy’s bank accounts were linked to “unlawful activities and predicate offenses,” such as qualified human trafficking, sexual abuse and child molestation, child sex trafficking, fraud, conspiracy, marriage fraud, smuggling and money laundering.
The CA said the freezing order would take effect immediately and would be valid for a period of 20 days.
Atty. Israelito Torreon, lawyer for Quiboloy and KOJC, declined comment, saying they had not yet received an official copy of the resolution.
“The KOJC does not wish to speculate on what this decree is about, as there was no prior indication or knowledge of it,” he said.
“Therefore, no comment will be made on this matter until an official copy of the order and the petition with attachments is received,” he added.
Meanwhile, SMNI attorney Mark Tolentino said that while they respect the court’s decision, they will file a motion against it.
“We will file a motion with the court to vacate this order or file a preliminary injunction with the Supreme Court,” Tolentino told reporters.
Quiboloy is facing charges under Section 5(b) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, as well as Section 10(a) of the same Act, before a court in Quezon City.
He is also facing a charge of human trafficking without bail under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended, filed before a Pasig court.
Both courts have issued arrest warrants against Quiboloy.
There is also a reward of P10 million for information leading to his arrest.
PRO 11 police chief Brigadier Nicolas Torre III said Thursday that Quiboloy is still in the KOJC compound based on tips and informants.
“Yes, that’s what the indicators and informants are telling us, and that’s all we need to know,” Torre said when asked about the issue during the 123rd anniversary ceremony of the police service at Camp Crame.
(Yes, that’s what the clues and informants tell us, that he was inside at the time, and that’s why his followers were guarding the area for him.)
“Even on June 10, Ang Sabi Nandoon Lang Talaga. All indicators Nandoon Talaga e. “I received an arrest warrant on June 10 last year and received an arrest warrant,” he added.
(Even on June 10, they said he was really there. All signs point to him really being there. That’s why on June 10 of last year, authorities tried to serve him a warrant for his arrest because he was there.) —VAL/AOL, GMA Integrated News
