Televangelist and former Senate candidate Apollo Quiboloy will remain in detention after the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 159 denied his and his co-accused’s petitions for bail.
In a 23-page ruling issued on July 20 (Sunday), the court rejected the arguments presented by Quiboloy and his co-accused—Sylvia Cemañes, Paulene Canada, Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, and Ingrid Canada—stating that they failed to establish that the evidence presented against them was weak.
“At this juncture, the prosecution has sufficiently shown that the evidence of guilt against all the accused is strong on the two crimes of qualified human trafficking committed by a syndicate,” the court stated.
It added: “Thus, given these pieces of evidence against all the accused at this point which establish a great presumption of guilt for purposes of bail, the Court must deny their petitions for bail.”
However, the court clarified that the denial of bail does not equate to a conviction.
“The Court is merely tasked with resolving the Petitions for Bail filed by all the accused, and not with rendering a judgment on the merits of the case. There remains a long process ahead, and both parties have the opportunity to present further evidence,” the ruling emphasized.
Quiboloy is facing charges related to human trafficking and sexual abuse allegedly committed against members of his religious organization, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name.
Earlier this year, the court also rejected Quiboloy’s request to participate in interviews in connection with his 2025 Senate bid.
He ran under the “DuterTEN” slate of PDP-Laban but failed to secure a seat.