A sole complainant, using the alias Amanda, finished her testimony in the cases against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy on Monday.
According to Amanda’s legal counsel, Atty. Ian Enterina, the complainant cried while testifying before the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 159 in the qualified human trafficking case against Quiboloy.
“Direct testimony of alias Amanda was terminated today and her cross-examination will be on Thursday. Alias Amanda cried several times while she testified,” Enterina said.
Due to the charges of human trafficking against him, Quiboloy cannot be granted bail and has been attending court hearings after attempting to petition for bail.
“About 10:00 in the evening last night I was about to file a motion that he be excused from personally appearing today, pumunta talaga siya dito sa korte para ipakita na wala siyang kasalanan,” lawyer Israelito Torreon, Quiboloy’s legal counsel, said.
The cross-examination of the complainant by the defense lawyers is scheduled for Thursday, January 16.
Private prosecutor Joeie Domingo stated that they are prepared for the case.
“Very ready, kasi kapag nagsasabi ka naman ng totoo handang handa ka naman kasi wala ka kailangang i-twist sa mga sasabihin mo,” Domingo said.
Domingo also explained that bail was not granted by the prosecution, “not only because we believe that the evidence of guilt is strong, but also because we consider Quiboloy to be a flight risk, given the history of how the government has expended so many resources in pursuing his arrest.”
“We deem it inconsistent for him to be claiming that he is physically unwell when he is asking the court for furlough accommodations for his health yet fit to post bail to campaign for his senatorial bid,” she added.
Torreon, on the other hand, argued that the evidence of guilt against Quiboloy is “quite shaky and weak.”
He claimed that the testimony of the complainant “appears to be curative in nature, as it contains new matters which obviously were introduced to correct the weaknesses of the allegations in the original complaint.”
“The resultant testimony in court now materially differs from the meat of the allegations in the original complaint,” Torreon said.
“The overwhelming contradictions and inconsistencies in private complainant’s court testimony vis-a-vis her written complaint may hopefully become the primordial reason why the presiding judge may ultimately grant bail in favor of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy,” he added.
