The Pasig City Regional Trial Court has ordered the camp of detained Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), to explain the pre-recorded message that was played before his supporters and later posted on social media earlier in February.

In a two-page order dated 12 February, the Pasig RTC Branch 159 stated that the video was aired on 9 February at a gathering of KOJC members before the court had the opportunity to review and approve it.

The pre-recorded video was then posted on Facebook on 10 February without approval, “in clear violation of the guidelines and parameters set by this court.”

The court has given Quiboloy’s camp five days to provide an explanation.

On Tuesday, Atty. Israelito Torreon, Quiboloy’s lawyer, claimed that the pastor was permitted to air his recorded message for his senatorial campaign during a rally last week, despite accusations of VIP treatment.

Torreon explained that they had requested the court’s permission for Quiboloy to participate in media interviews or issue statements during campaign rallies.

“Eventually, the court denied our first motion for him to personally appear in interviews but granted our motion allowing him to address his supporters on 9, 11, and 13 February,” he said.

He added that the approval was given through a court order after a full hearing.

The statement was made in response to accusations that Quiboloy received preferential treatment when his recorded video message was played during his campaign kick-off on 11 February.

Torreon argued that Quiboloy, like any accused individual, is presumed innocent and invoked his rights under the 1987 Constitution and the Nelson Mandela Rules.

Quiboloy is currently facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended, before the Pasig court.

He is also facing charges under Section 5(b) and Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

Meanwhile, Torreon urged the Commission on Elections to conduct a manual count of the ballots for the midterm elections at the precinct level.