MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered the freezing of the assets and bank accounts of fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy and several others due to allegations of their involvement in serious crimes, including human trafficking, sexual abuse, and money laundering.
In a 48-page resolution dated August 7, CA issued a freeze order against the bank accounts and properties of Quiboloy, religious sect Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), Swara Sug Media Corporation (SSMC) or the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), Children’s Joy Foundation, Inc. (CJFI) and nine other individuals.
READ: Pogo probe: CA freezes accounts of Alice Guo, others
The order covers Quiboloy’s 10 bank accounts, seven real properties, five motor vehicles, and an aircraft; KJC’s 47 bank accounts, 16 real properties, and 16 motor vehicles; SSMC’s 17 bank accounts, five real properties, and 28 motor vehicles; as well as CJFI’s 23 bank accounts, one real property, and four motor vehicles.
Below is the list of nine others and their respective assets:
- Maria Teresita Dandan (Nine bank accounts, one real property)
- Helen Padaduan Panilag (Two bank accounts, one real property)
- Paulene Canada (27 bank accounts)
- Cresente Canada (Four bank accounts)
- Ingrid Canada (Seven bank accounts)
- Sylvia Camañes (Two bank accounts)
- Jackielyn Roy (Three bank accounts)
- Alona Metalla Santander (19 bank accounts)
- Marlon Bongas Acobo (Three bank accounts)
According to the resolution, the appellate court said that the verified allegations in the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s petition, along with supporting documents, give it “reasonable ground to believe that the bank accounts enumerated above” are indeed linked to the following crimes under the Philippines and the United States laws:
- Qualified human trafficking
- Sexual and child abuse
- Conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion and sex trafficking of children
- Sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion
- Conspiracy
- Marriage fraud
- Fraud and misuse of visas
- Bulk cash smuggling
- Promotional money laundering
- Concealment money laundering
- International promotional money laundering
To avoid withdrawal of funds from these accounts, the appellate court “finds it appropriate and judicious to issue a 20-day freeze order” directing the following bank and financial institutions to freeze Quiboloy and others’ accounts immediately within the given period:
- BDO Unibank, Inc.
- Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company
- Bank of Commerce
- Bank of the Philippine Islands
- CTBC Bank (Philippines) Corp.
- Maybank Philippines, Inc.
- Philippine National Bank
- Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) and RCBC Savings
- Rizal Microbank Inc. – a thrift bank of RCBC
- Security Bank Corporation
- EastWest Banking Corporation
- Green Bank, Inc
- Philippine Business Bank, Inc.,
- Landbank Of The Philippines
INQUIRER.net has sought the side of Quiboloy’s lawyer Israelito Torreon, but he has yet to reply as of posting time.
Last April 3, a Davao Regional Trial Court issued arrest orders against Quiboloy and his five subordinates.
READ: Quiboloy staying in his church compound – Davao police chief
They are facing charges of violating Republic Act 7610, or the Anti-Child Abuse Law, specifically the provision on sexual abuse of minors and maltreatment.
Aside from this, a Pasig City court also issued a warrant for the arrest of the self-proclaimed “appointed son of God” for qualified human trafficking, a non-bailable offense, on April 11.
Moreover, an arrest order for Quiboloy from the Senate panel on women headed by Senator Risa Hontiveros had also been released.