Hontiveros seeks probe of Quiboloy’s alleged sex trafficking ring

Apollo Quiboloy

MANILA, Philippines — Opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday moved for a Senate inquiry into the alleged sex trafficking and child abuse linked to the religious group founded and led by Apollo Quiboloy.

In a privilege speech, Hontiveros urged her colleagues to immediately address the complaints against Quiboloy, which, she said were “ongoing offenses.”

“The abuse of women and children is taking place as we speak, under the auspices of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC). While Christianity is celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, there are children who are being abused in the name of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ,” she said.

In her resolution, Hontiveros alleged that Quiboloy, using his position as KOJC leader and “Appointed Son of God,” has supposedly been exacting “strict obedience” from his full-time followers through “brainwashing, psychological manipulation, and constant threats of eternal damnation.”

Stable of women

The senator said Quiboloy has been maintaining a stable of women called “pastorals” who occupy prestigious positions in the organization supposedly because they are tasked with performing “special personal tasks and errands” for their leader.

Pastorals are divided into the “inner circle” and the “inner of the innermost circle,” the senator said, with the latter category purportedly made to perform acts of sexual nature.

Pastorals of the “inner circle,” meanwhile, allegedly perform other personal tasks for Quiboloy, such as massaging him, bathing him, doing his laundry, and cleaning his bedroom.

‘Exploitative acts’

“Some of the pastorals were still minors during their recruitment and during the period [of their tenure], they were made to perform sexual services,” Hontiveros said.

Quiboloy has also been allegedly coercing his KOJC members, many of whom are minors, to perform “exploitative acts,” such as begging in the streets and soliciting money from strangers, according to Hontiveros’ resolution.

Quoting unnamed informants, Hontiveros said KOJC members who were not able to meet their quota of money collected were allegedly “severely whipped,” or “subjected to public humiliation.”

Hontiveros pointed out that Quiboloy and other officials had been indicted by the Federal Grand Jury in California in 2021 for “conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking.”

“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 to run the operations of KOJC, investigation be conducted with dispatch,” Hontiveros said.