PASTOR IN TROUBLE Televangelist Apollo Quiboloy once enjoyed the virtual trappings of royalty as a sought-after political endorser and “spiritual adviser.” Photo taken during his “crowning ceremony” as patron of the Royal Institution of Singapore, an event held in Davao City in September 2019. —Photo from Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy Facebook page
ILIGAN CITY—Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God,” whose influence and wealth once made him a sought-after endorser or “spiritual adviser” of some politicians, admitted to be in hiding and made some explosive claims on Wednesday.
The controversial televangelist, who faces charges in the United States as well as congressional inquiries in the Philippines, spoke of a supposed plot hatched by the American government and aided by President Marcos to have him killed.
In a 36-minute voice recording uploaded on YouTube, Quiboloy, the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) sect based in Davao City, projected himself as a persecuted man standing up to foreign oppressors.
Citing “reliable sources in the State Department,” he said the United States was orchestrating a plot to assassinate him.
The Senate earlier issued a subpoena for Quiboloy to appear on March 5 before the committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality. The panel, chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, is looking into allegations that he sexually abused female members of the sect.
The House of Representatives is also requiring his presence on March 12 before the committee on legislative franchises, which is investigating the KOJC-owned Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) for alleged violations of the terms of its franchise.
Quiboloy, a close friend and spiritual adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, did not say whether he would honor or ignore the subpoenas, but denounced the proceedings for being intended to “demonize me and destroy my reputation.”
He explained that because of the threat to his life, he had chosen not to appear in public.
In his message, he said he was “in our compound here in Tamayong,” a rural village in Davao City.
Instead of having him arrested, US authorities were allegedly planning to “enter my compound and they will have me kidnapped … or they will have me murdered.”
He also accused President Marcos of having “connived” with the Americans to carry out the plot.
“You have given me to the hands of the Americans,” he said of Mr. Marcos. “They are just waiting for the right opportunity to kidnap me, or kill me, or assassinate me.”
Quiboloy is facing a string of criminal charges in the United States. In 2022, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a poster marking him as a “wanted” man for alleged participation in “a labor trafficking scheme that brought (his) church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders.”
According to the FBI, Quiboloy was also charged with 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.
On Wednesday, Quiboloy said he had waited for the US government’s request to have him extradited so he could challenge the accusations before its own justice system.
But US authorities changed their strategy, he said.
He said he would “not allow myself to be arrested,” but later added that should authorities enter any of the KOJC’s 11 compounds, “we will resist but not (turn) violent.”
He lamented that Mr. Marcos had supposedly allowed the Americans to conduct operations against him even after he supported his presidential bid in 2022.
“I will not honor you, I will not respect you because you did not honor me, you did not respect me,” Quiboloy said, addressing the President.
He went on to describe the current national leadership as “an evil and unrighteous administration.”
“Let us unite and remove this evil administration used by the bad spirits to spread darkness throughout the Philippines,” he said.
Speaker responds
“I will lead so that we can once again have freedom… I will stand and I will lead this country for justice and fear of God, [and] to bring back our freedom and security from the hands of foreigners [just like] how Rizal and Bonifacio sacrificed their lives,” Quiboloy said.
He called on Mr. Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez, the President’s cousin, to resign “because my voice will not be silence[d] until you are gone from power.”
In a statement, Romualdez denied Quiboloy’s claims that he and Mr. Marcos were privy to an assassination plot against him.
The House leader stressed that while he was aware of the “gravity of the accusations” against Quiboloy, “the Philippine government and its officials, including myself and [President Marcos], operate within the bounds of our Constitution and laws.”
He also denied the televangelist’s claims that they were working with the FBI to have him killed, saying these were “unfounded and divert attention from the serious legal matters at hand.”
Romualdez urged Quiboloy to address the issues against him “through the proper legal channels and respect the legal processes in place,” referring to the subpoenas issued by both the Senate and the House.
At the Senate, Hontiveros on Wednesday threatened to not only cite Quiboloy in contempt but also order his arrest if he would continue to ignore the upper chamber’s latest subpoena.
READ: Quiboloy admits he is in hiding amid kill plot
“Our next hearing is on March 5 and if Mr. Quiboloy does not show up, I will cite him in contempt and have him arrested,” said Hontiveros. “All that is being asked of you is to face the legal process, including the process of Senate investigation.”
Facing justice
Sought for comment on Quiboloy’s accusations, the US Embassy in Manila would not confirm whether the US government had asked for Quiboloy’s arrest or extradition, referring questions about “legal proceedings” to the US Department of Justice.
But the embassy said it was “confident” that Quiboloy would be brought to justice for “serious human rights abuses, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old,” for more than a decade.
“He is currently on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. We are confident that Quiboloy will face justice for his heinous crimes,” US Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay said in a statement on Wednesday. —WITH REPORTS FROM KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING, TINA G. SANTOS, DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN AND INQUIRER RESEARCH