- Davao police chief alleges five girls victimized by Pastor Quiboloy
THE CHIEF of the Davao City Police Office revealed that five female members of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s innermost pastoral community personally narrated to him about being sexually assaulted by the televangelist when they were still minors.
“It’s true that we have five members of the pastoral who are with us, not necessarily in our custody,” Col. Hansel Marantan said during a press briefing on Thursday morning at the DCPO headquarters.
When prompted for a statement on the allegation, Kingdom of Jesus Christ lawyer Atty Israelito Torreon said, “I have to verify the information from Colonel Hansel Marantan himself because I do not have any details as to the identities of these supposed 5 pastoral women. Hence, I cannot speculate as to whether or not their claims are in fact true or merely made up just to smear further the good name and reputation of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy. “
“I pray that the PNP would handle the investigations of these new alleged cases with care and professionalism and not subject the same to much publicity owing to the high possibility that these alleged new complainants may have been influenced only by some forces whose aim is not to obtain Justice but to score much-needed political points.”
Police to file case
Meanwhile, Marantan said they would file cases for violation of Republic Act 7610. However, he quickly added that they have yet to secure the affidavits and medical records of the women.
“That’s why after this, no more talking. I will get their statements,” he added.
For now, Quiboloy and four others are now in Camp Crame after they surrendered to the authorities on Sept. 8.
The five are facing qualified human trafficking and child sexual abuse complaints before the Pasig and Quezon City courts, respectively.
The five would appear personally before the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 159 at 8:30 a.m. while their arraignment at the Quezon City RTC Branch 106 via videoconferencing was rescheduled to 1:30 p.m.
“I have nothing against Atty. (Israelito) Torreon or members of the KOJC. I just want to narrate to you the statements gathered from the alleged victims of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy,” he said.
Marantan said the five women, now 25 years old or younger, approached him separately.
“Two came first, then the remaining three came in one by one. Some are here in Davao, while others are not,” he said. “They were not with their parents when they lodged the complaint. Some of their parents are still inside [the compound]. They acted on their own, hoping it wouldn’t be discovered. That’s why my statement was general; I wasn’t specific because it might affect their relatives inside.”
He clarified that he had “talked to two physically, and three were on video after the Senate hearing [on Sept. 6].”
“They were encouraged to report to General Torre after the hearing. Maybe some people, even you, know that we were very serious. We didn’t just enter the KOJC; we stayed there with legal battles. We even clashed. But you know the determination of the PNP and DILG,” he added.
When asked about the specific allegations, he said, “They were raped by Pastor Quiboloy.”
He said the women came forward because they wanted to tell the truth since the assault “has been eating away at them for years, causing them stress.”
“I just listened to them, and even now, I’m stressed. But we found common ground, and I’m thankful they found confidence in me,” he said.
Women were underaged when the alleged assault happened
According to Marantan, the girls revealed that the rapes started when they were 12 years old. They did not come out earlier because he said they were brainwashed and indoctrinated until they finally freed themselves from the clutches of his influence.
“Actually, yung sexual activity na yan is the final rite before you can become the pastoral of the innermost circle,” he added.
He said these five girls are members of the innermost pastoral and are already out of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound.
“At the age of 12, we are talking here about nine to ten years ago,” he said, adding the victims were “foreign nationals like Europeans, Americans, and others.”
“As confirmed by the regional director himself si General Torre, the bedroom of Mr. Quiboloy is surrounded by the bedrooms of the members of the innermost circles mga minors.”
How the girls started to become members of the pastoral community:
Marantan said, “There’s a foundation offering them a free education the poor guys also want to avail free education, so even their mothers brought their children to the foundation and I have to tell you, you know what’s common ground doon, common situation nila, they all came from broken families.”
However, the pastor reportedly picked from among the girls to be recruited into his innermost circle.
When asked if Quiboloy impregnated any of the women, Marantan answered: “Tinanong ko rin naman yan kung bakit hindi kayo nabuntis? Well, sabi nila in their narration that Mr. Quiboloy is vasectomized.”
Angels of death
The DCPO chief also said it’s difficult for the victims to break the code of secrecy because they believed the pastor’s words that he was the anointed son and their reward would be a place in heaven.
They were even fooled into thinking they were still untouched because it was not Quiboloy but the spirit.
Angel of death
Furthermore, the girls were also scared about coming out because Quiboloy would supposedly unleash the “angel of death” upon them, who would then kill them and decimate their families.
Marantan claimed that the girls told him about being on a strict schedule on when the pastor would visit them. So, they knew when they were going to be touched.
With the revelation, Marantan said they expect more women to come forward.
Protection of victims
Marantan said he would go to Camp Crame with Police Regional Director XI Nicolas Torre III to discuss with the Women and Children’s Protection Desk how to handle the sensitive matter. He said they would get the reported victims from the safe house to Metro Manila.
Photo by Bing Gonzales
