Pasig court orders inspection of KOJC sites

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March 29, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — To verify accuracy and dismiss ambiguity in testimonies, some properties of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in Pasig, Quezon and Davao cities will be inspected by a Pasig court as part of the trial against KOJC founder Apollo Quiboloy and five others.

In a nine-page order on March 27, the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 159 granted the prosecution’s motion for ocular inspection on the KOJC compound, dormitory and bible school building, and Jose Maria College in Davao City as well as the KOJC chapters in Barangay Rosario in Pasig and Barangay Sauyo in Quezon City.

The court, together with prosecution and defense lawyers, will inspect the Pasig and Quezon city properties on April 27 and the Davao properties on May 18.

Prosecutors were ordered to cover all the inspection expenses.

Quiboloy and co-accused Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada and Sylvia Cemañes – all facing human trafficking charges – would remain in detention at the Pasig city jail during the inspection.

“The court finds it necessary to conduct an ocular inspection, as (this) will assist in obtaining a clearer and more accurate understanding of the locations where the alleged offenses of qualified trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation and labor trafficking were purportedly committed, and of the manner in which these properties were allegedly utilized as instruments in the commission of the offenses,” read a portion of the ruling issued by Judge Redentor Cardenas.

Based on court records, the female complainant was recruited when she was 12 at the KOJC chapter in Pasig, baptized as a member in Quezon City and eventually stayed at the church compound in Davao City for her education through a scholarship and recruitment of “close-in pastoral miracle workers.”

The girl claimed Quiboloy abused her inside the KOJC bible school building.

Quiboloy objected to the inspection, saying it was “a belated attempt to compensate for the prosecution’s failure to establish facts during witness examination.”

Marlon Acobo, KOJC executive pastor, earlier asked the court to deny the motion, saying it would “improperly affect the rights of non-parties and distinct juridical entities” and that it offends due process, particularly in relation to religious and educational premises.

“While the sketch aids the court in understanding the layout and relative locations within the subject premises, it remains limited to the private complainant’s recollection which cannot fully reflect the actual configuration, scale and physical conditions of the areas. Thus, to verify its accuracy and dismiss the ambiguity, the court finds it necessary to personally observe the premises,” the court ruled.