(UPDATE) THE Supreme Court has ordered the transfer of venue of the child abuse and human trafficking cases against evangelist Apollo Quiboloy from Davao City to Quezon City to avoid a miscarriage of justice.

The decision came following the request of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to move the venue of two criminal cases against Quiboloy from the Regional Trial Court of Davao City to the RTC of Quezon City.

In its decision, the Court found compelling reasons to justify the transfer of venue as the cases involve public interest, with the accused, a well-known and influential religious leader 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.

The branch clerk of court of Davao City RTC Branch 12 was ordered to forward the entire records relating to the cases against Quiboloy to the Office of the Executive Judge of the Quezon City RTC within three days from notice.

The Quezon City RTC executive judge was also directed to raffle the cases, upon receipt of the case records, among the judges in the station.

The Court further directed judges in Davao City and in other stations in Mindanao where future related cases involving Quiboloy and his co-accused may be filed to order the transmittal of the records to the Office of the Clerk of Court of the RTC, Quezon City and Metropolitan Trial Court, Quezon City, as the case may be.

In a letter dated April 4, 2024, Remulla requested the transfer of venue of the cases, "considering: 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."

Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, is facing charges under Section 5(b) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and under Section 10(a) of the same act before a Davao court.

He is also facing a non-bailable offense of Qualified Human Trafficking under Section 4 (a) of Republic Act 9208, as amended before a Pasig court. Both the Davao and Pasig courts have issued arrest warrants against Quiboloy and his co-respondents.

The preacher, however, is still in hiding.

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