Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) Church. (Photo from INQUIRER files)
MANILA, Philippines — An investigation, this time, against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) has been sought in the Senate.
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros filed on Monday Senate Resolution Number 884, directing the Senate committee on women, which she heads, to look into his alleged involvement in several criminal activities.
The cases are large-scale human trafficking, rape, and other rights abuses allegedly committed by KOJC under the leadership of Quiboloy.
Hontiveros’ move coincides with the ongoing investigation of the House of Representatives on the alleged practice of spreading fake news by Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
SMNI reported Speaker Martin Romualdez had spent P1.8 billion on his travels.
Quiboloy reportedly owns the network.
In the resolution, Hontiveros enumerated the allegations against Quiboloy and KOJC.
One of them is that the televangelist “allegedly demands strict obedience from his full-time followers through brainwashing, psychological manipulation and constant threats of eternal damnation.”
Another allegation against Quiboloy is that he maintains a “stable of women called ‘pastorals’ who occupy prestigious positions in the organization because they are tasked to perform special personal tasks and errands for him.
The pastorals are supposedly divided into the “inner circle” and the “inner of the innermost circle,” the resolution said, citing informants.
Those in the “inner of the innermost circle” are allegedly made to perform sexual acts.
Those in the first category, the inner circle, are made to do other personal tasks such as washing his clothes, bathing him, cleaning his bedroom, and massaging him.
“Some of these pastorals were still minors during their recruitment and during the period they were made to perform sexual services,” the resolution said.
Hontiveros also alleged that Quiboloy “coerces” KOJC members, who are mostly minors, “to perform exploitative acts, such as begging in the streets and soliciting money from strangers.”
Those who are not able to meet their quota of monies collected, the resolution said, “find themselves severely whipped or subjected to public humiliation.”
“Considering that the crimes were committed within the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines and considering that crimes are taking place even at present as Quiboloy remains free to run the operations of KOJC, it is imperative that an investigation be undertaken with dispatch,” the senator said.
Hontiveros said the probe will also allow lawmakers to determine “whether our updated human trafficking laws can cover large-scale and systemic acts of trafficking done under the cover of religious organization.”
Inquirer.net has already reached out to Quiboloy’s camp for comments, but it has yet to receive a response as of writing.