Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, shrouded in clothscarves, along with other accused individuals, is presented during a briefing at the PNP Headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City on September 9, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN news

MANILA – The Department of Justice said on Wednesday it is up to the Pasig and Quezon City courts handling the cases of Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy to resolve the issue on his jurisdiction.

This comes amidst the tug-of-war between the QC Regional Trial Court Branch 106 and Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 159 on where the televangelist should be detained.

The QC RTC ordered the transfer of Quiboloy and his co-accused Cresente Canada to the New Quezon City Jail in Bagong Silangan from the police custodial center in Camp Crame.

However, the Philippine National Police said Quiboloy will remain at Camp Crame.

The PNP cited the separate order from the Pasig RTC for the pastor and his co-accused to remain in their custody.

READ: Apollo Quiboloy presented to media after arrest

READ: Apollo Quiboloy has been arrested -- DILG

"Ang rule diyan, the commitment order that led to the custody would have to be honored. The warrant of arrest issued by the court will have to be followed. Kung alin man dun sa korteng yan ang ginamit, yan ang bagay na dapat pag-isipan. Ang komplikasyon dito base sa records, QC court nauna maglabas ng warrant at yun naging basehan ng commitment order," Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez explained.

"Yung conflict na ito, dapat ipa-clarify sa korte, kasi parehas na RTC. Ang pwede lang magresolve niyan would be by the courts themselves and later the office of the court administrator or the Supreme Court itself," he added.

Quiboloy faces child and sexual abuse charges in the Quezon City court, while in Pasig he faces a non-bailable qualified human trafficking case.

DOJ TO RECOMMEND QUIBOLOY DETENTION IN CRAME

DOJ said the two courts must also settle the issue on the arraignment happening on the same time and day.

The Pasig and QC courts scheduled the arraignment for Quiboloy on Friday at 8:30 a.m.

"Dapat coordination niyan should be made by the courts themselves kasi nagkataon na sabay. Because obviously, he cannot be in two places at one time. So the suggestion here is the courts should be able to agree kung saan muna dadalhin, kung saan muna dadalhin para arraign. If it's possible, kung kaya pang ihabol doon sa court sa Pasig then ihahabol," National Prosecution Service OIC-Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said.

He explained that the problem lies with Quiboloy facing multiple cases in different courts.

"The difficulty here is the QC court wants him to be detained in QC. But that is correct if that is the only case you are facing. When there are several cases in different jurisdictions, usually nagrerequest yung prosecutor that he be allowed to have the accused in a facility, let's say for example in Camp Crame, where they can assure his attendance in all jurisdictions," Fadullon said.

Amid the confusion on where Quiboloy should really be detained, the DOJ said it will make a recommendation to keep him in Camp Crame.

"We are beginning discussions with our prosecutors to suggest that, to recommend that to the court para hindi mahirapan. Kasi it will be more difficult from BJMP QC to be transferring him to Pasig every time there is a court hearing," he said.

READ: Quiboloy hiding in KoJC Bible School before surrender - source

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