A YouTube video claims that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the closure of criminal cases filed against fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy. This is false.
The DOJ has issued no such directive and court trials for Quiboloy’s sexual abuse and human trafficking cases are ongoing.
The video was uploaded on June 10, three days after police served arrest warrants against Quiboloy and five of his associates in Davao City. Its headline read:
“SAWAKAS: CLOSE ang CASE DOJ PINASARA ang KÀS0 Kapapasok lang MATINDI ang labanan/ VPSARA PASTOR (Finally: Case is closed. DOJ closed the case. Just in, this is an intense fight/ VP Sara Pastor).”
The thumbnail also bore photos of Quiboloy, justice secretary Boying Remulla and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio along with a text saying: “PINASARA NA! CLOSE ANG CASE. SA WAKAS SARADO NA ANG KASO (Ordered closed! Case is closed. Finally the case is closed).
There has been no order from the DOJ nor any court to terminate multiple cases filed against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ sect leader who has so far evaded all arrest warrants served against him.
The self-styled “appointed son of god” is currently facing non-bailable qualified trafficking charges in the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) as well as sexual abuse and child abuse raps in the Davao City RTC. Both courts have already issued arrest warrants against Quiboloy.
On May 28, the Supreme Court ordered that Quiboloy’s cases in Davao City be transferred to Quezon City, citing the pastor’s influence in Davao.
Apart from these, Quiboloy also faces three other arrest warrants locally and abroad.
The Senate and the House of Representatives both cited Quiboloy in contempt and ordered his arrest for failing to appear in legislative investigations. A California court also issued him a federal arrest warrant for charges of sex trafficking, fraud and coercion, conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling.
The video showed no proof to support its claim. It merely played an audio clip from a previously fact-checked vlogger who criticized authorities for attempting to arrest Quiboloy.
Uploaded by YouTube channel BANAT KAPANIG TV, the video has received over 5,498 interactions. Facebook users also reposted the link.
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