Pastor Apollo Quiboloy (Photo from his Facebook account)
MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Minority leader Rep. France Castro called the sanctions imposed by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy, a “good development,” adding that it should prompt a local probe on the pastor.
“This is a good development and we hope that this would serve as a signal to local authorities to also look into the illegal activities of Pastor Quiboloy here. Wala dapat sacred cow dito,” said Castro in a statement.
Castro is also the representative of the ACT Teachers party-list in the House of Representatives.
She added that the franchise of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) should also be probed as it “serves as a mouthpiece for Quiboloy” who was indicted for sex trafficking in the US.
READ: Duterte ally Apollo Quiboloy indicted for sex trafficking in US
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should also reconsider its agreement with SMNI because such a deal with Quiboloy who is engaged in serious human rights abuse, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, as well as other physical abuse should not be tolerated,” said the Castro.
“This is good news during Human Rights Day and we hope that other human rights violators would be [held] to account in the coming days,” added Castro.
With the sanctions imposed by the OFAC, Quiboloy’s possessions and properties in the US would be blocked and reported to the OFAC.
Quiboloy is wanted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the charges of Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion, and Sex Trafficking of Children; Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion; Conspiracy; and Bulk Cash Smuggling.
RELATED STORIES
Quiboloy’s lawyers say US Treasury sanctions are ‘outrageous’
Apollo Quiboloy on FBI’s ‘most wanted’ list
US authorities eye seizure of Apollo Quiboloy’s assets