The Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 159 has denied the petition of detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy to be transferred from detention to a hospital for medical confinement.
In a four-page order dated October 8, Acting Presiding Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa ruled that there was no sufficient basis to justify placing the Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder under hospital arrest at the Philippine Heart Center or The Medical City.
“The court finds no compelling reason to place Quiboloy under hospital arrest at either the Philippine Heart Center or Medical City,” the order read.
“The records clearly establish that his medical needs are being adequately and consistently attended to while in the custody of the Pasig City Jail, and that he continues to receive appropriate, timely, and sufficient medical care at the Pasig City General Hospital, under the supervision of competent medical professionals,” the court added.
Quiboloy’s legal team earlier asked that he be permitted to seek medical treatment at a facility of his choice, claiming that the 75-year-old religious leader had been suffering from persistent shortness of breath, along with intermittent fever, muscle pain, and cough while in detention.
However, state prosecutors opposed the request, arguing that Quiboloy’s age and health condition do not set him apart from other inmates.
They maintained that “his advanced age and medical condition do not distinguish him from other detainees at the Pasig City Jail, many of whom likewise suffer from equal or serious health issues.”
According to the prosecution, neither his age nor his current health situation warrants any special or preferential treatment under the law.