Rappler lawyer says recent admission in the US by Quiboloy paralegal ‘very significant devt’

MANILA — Cagayan de Oro prosecutors have junked 7 cyber libel complaints against Rappler journalists, a professor and 3 former members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church over a series of articles accusing the religious group’s founder, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, of sexual abuse, trafficking and fraud, among other cases.

In a 3-page joint resolution dated February 18, prosecutors Ruby Teleron-Malanog, Alfonso Vicente, Jr. and Omar Sharief Naga dismissed the cyber libel complaint filed by Cherry Cabrillos, who identified herself as the Northern Mindanao cluster coordinator of KOJC.

“She was not identified in the articles and recordings. Absent circumstances specifically pointing or alluding to a particular member of a class, no member of such class has a right of action,” the prosecutors said.

They also noted Quiboloy himself was not involved in filing the complaint.

“Although her was identified in the articles and recordings, however, he did not execute any affidavit. There is no showing that, as to Apollo Quiboloy, Cherry Cabrillos is competent to establish the presence of the fifth element,” the prosecutors explained, referring to the tendency to cause dishonor, discredit or contempt of the person allegedly defamed, an element of libel.

Named as respondents in the complaint were Rappler Incorporated and its journalists Herbie Gomez, Inday Espina-Varona, Vernise Tantuco and...

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