Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy attends a Senate probe on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. (Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — Detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy on Wednesday denied that the religious organization is using fasting as a way to punish erring members.
Quiboloy, however, maintained that fasting is voluntary, and such practices are covered under the freedom of religion in the country.
“Sa freedom of religion po natin, meron po tayong separation of church and state, at tulad ng sinabi ko, ang fasting ay voluntary kung tatanggapin mo. Hindi pinipilit,” Quiboloy said when asked by Sen. Risa Hontiveros if the his religious group is using dry fasting as a method to punish members.
(Under the freedom of religion, we have separation of church and state, and like I said, fasting is voluntary if you accept it; it’s not forced.)
“Hindi rin po polisiya ng Kingdom ang batas ng pagparusa ng tao ang pag-fasting para mamatay,” Quiboloy said.
(It is also not a policy of the Kingdom to punish someone through fasting to the point that it will lead to death.)
Hontiveros asked Quiboloy about this when former KJC member Teresita Valdehueza revealed in the same hearing that she underwent a 10-day dry fast as a punishment.
Hontiveros then asked Valdehueza if the dry-fast she had been through was voluntary.
“No, for sure, it was an instruction,” Valdehueza said in response.
Quiboloy, also a senatorial aspirant, appeared before the Senate committee on women for the first time.
Quiboloy is currently detained at the custodial center of the Philippine National Police following his capture in September over human trafficking and child abuse allegations, which his camp has vehemently denied.