Police secure Kingdom of Jesus Christ Pastor Apollo Quiboloy as arrives at the Pasig Regional Trial Court for his arraignment on Friday, September 13, 2024. Quiboloy and his co-accused, who surrendered to authorities last Sunday more than 2 weeks after police raided the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City, were facing human trafficking charges before the Pasig RTC branch 159. ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused pleaded not guilty to charges of qualified human trafficking, according to the legal counsel of one of the victims.

• Cops bring Quiboloy, co-accused to Pasig RTC

Quiboloy and 4 co-accused were arraigned at the Pasig City Regional Trial Court branch 159 on Friday morning for the human trafficking complaint against them.

KOJC chief legal counsel Israelito Torreon said they would refrain from making further comments as the case was already in court.

“Not guilty ang kanyang plead. Wala kaming statement kasi ang kaso nasa korte na. Nag-plead na not guilty,” Torreon said.

'TATAG LANG' 

Before the arraignment, Quiboloy, wearing an orange shirt under a bulletproof vest and black jacket, along with a Kevlar helmet and face mask, gave a brief message to his followers.

“Tatag lang. Tatag lang,” he said.

The court will decide whether Quiboloy's presence would be required at the next trial.

Meanwhile, the video conference for their case at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court was set at 1 p.m.

WITNESS PROTECTION 

The self-styled “Appointed Son of God” was accused of trafficking female KOJC members, some as young as 12 years old, to sell goods and raise funds for the church.

• 5 more KOJC members report alleged sexual abuse by Quiboloy: police

Some female members have accused Quiboloy of molestation, alleging the pastor said it was their way of getting into heaven.

The Department of Justice on Friday said alleged victims of Quiboloy who wanted to testify against him could be admitted to the government’s witness protection program.

“Pwedeng pwede silang masali sa Witness Protection Program,” DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty  said in a televised briefing.

He noted that the DOJ offered witness protection to Amanda, who was among the first to accused Quiboloy of sexual abuse during a Senate hearing.  

“Pero para sa kanya at sa kanyang abugado ay mas komportable sila sa sarili nilang arrangements sa proteksyon ni alias Amanda. Ang na-arrange nalang namin sa kanila, kada punta nila sa korte ay mae-escort sila ng mga tao namin sa WPP,” the official said. 

“Yung mga iba namang biktima kung gusto nilang masama sa WPP, handang-handa kami doon, lumapit lang namin sila sa aming tanggapan at ilalapit namin sila sa WPP at sila nalang magkakasundo kung ano ang magiging arrangement nila sa witness protection,” he added.    

Quiboloy and his co-accused surrendered to authorities last Sunday, more than 2 weeks after police raided the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Buhangin, Davao City to serve his arrest warrant.

Quiboloy’s day in court was a “big step”  towards serving justice, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said. 

"Papaharapin natin si Quiboloy at mga kapwa niya akusado sa Senado. Maraming biktima pa ang gustong mag-testigo para ipaglaban ang kanilang pagkatao, ang kanilang dignidad, at ang buong katotohanan,” she added. 

Hontiveros chairs the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality which led the investigation on Quiboloy on January 23, February 19, and March 5 this year. 

It has yet to schedule a hearing for Quiboloy, whom it ordered arrested after he ignored the Senate hearings. – With reports from Pia Gutierrez and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News