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Quiboloy denies rape, human trafficking raps
In her affidavit, Portugal said she was introduced to Quiboloy by her father, who was a member of their church, when she was 10 years old. (File Photo: Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy/Facebook)
DAVAO CITY – The camp of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy denied the alleged rape, qualified trafficking in person, and child abuse cases lodged by a former follower recently at the Office of the City Prosecutor here.
On Friday, a complainant, Blenda Portugal, accused Quiboloy and five others– Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Pauline Canada, Ingrid Canada, and Sylvia Cemañes –of sexual abuse and forced labor.
In her affidavit, Portugal said she was introduced to Quiboloy by her father, who was a member of their church, when she was 10 years old.
She said she and her sister were exploited both in forms of sexual and forced labor.
Davao City Prosecutor Shahruddin Roberto Sencio Jr. ordered respondents to answer the complaint within 10 days.
Lawyer Israelito Torreon, Quiboloy’s legal counsel, said in a press briefing on Friday Portugal’s allegation was part of a “grand conspiracy” to pin down his client.
“We will show you that this is not true. Because Quiboloy is true to his mission to propagate love, the love for Jesus and we are here to cause the dismissal of the criminal cases filed to him,” he said.
Torreon said the complainant has been threatening to file cases against the religious leader following years of allegedly spreading malicious comments on her Facebook Page.
“Part of our theory that maybe she planned this a long time ago,” he added.
Torreon alleged that Portugal only fired back at the evangelist following the libel suit lodged against her last Oct.22, 2010 in which the City Prosecutor of Panabo City, Davao del Norte, issued the warrant of her arrest.
“This was issued April 29, 2019. The case for libel has been going until today but her lawyer withdrew from the case,” he added.
As to the ground of Portugal’s libel case, Torreon narrated that a certain Jose Antonio Tan Bonifacio is spreading malicious comments against Quiboloy on Facebook.
He claimed that their camp managed to ascertain that the Bonifacio was actually Portugal.
“She already surrendered and posted bail and the case is now on-going in the Regional Trial Court in Panabo City,” he added.
Cases filed
Torreon said the three cases filed by Portugal were all trumped up charges.
In her affidavit, Portugal claimed that she was raped on Sept. 1, 2014 inside the Jose Maria College Compound at around 1 or 2 a.m. She was 17 years old that time and one of the scholars and singer of Quiboloy’s church.
However, Quiboloy’s camp believed that somebody was behind Portugal saying the affidavit and the English was ‘astonishingly excellent.’
“It appeared that she is well supported and well financed. We know who they are and we are prepared for them. We will show them that Quiboloy is innocent,” Torreon said.
Similar case
In October last year, Quiboloy was also accused by a former follower of Kingdom of Jesus Christ for running a “child sex ring.”
A television news report said the allegation was made by Kristine Angeles’ counsel to defend his client in a court case where she is accused by a female church member of sexual assault.
Lawyer Grant Giventer claimed in court documents that Angeles was just one of several minors forced to have sex with the church leader.
However, Torreon, denied these allegations, saying a rival church organization helping Angeles was behind the claims.
“The new allegation that Pastor Quiboloy is involved in child sex rape, in behalf of the Kingdom, this charge is a pack of lies. This is not true,” he said, stressing that the accusations are vague.
