Gabriela Women’s Party-list called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue a hold departure order on Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder and Presidential Spiritual Adviser Pastor Apollo Carreon Quiboloy after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) placed him on its most-wanted list.
A federal grand jury in California charged Quiboloy and other KOJC members 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 November 10, 2021.
Gabriela Partylist representative Arlene Brosas urged the current administration not to shelter the known Duterte supporter.
“They are complicit in coddling the wanted sex trafficker and in causing further injury to those victims who have come forward to expose Quiboloy crimes,” she added.
The Church Leader’s Criminal Charges
The FBI charged Quiboloy with participating in a labor trafficking scheme, saying that he brought members to the United States using illegal visas and forced them to solicit donations for a charity. This money was then allegedly used to finance “church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders.”
The FBI also charged Quiboloy with sex trafficking. Based on reports, females were recruited as personal assistants or ‘pastorals‘ of Quiboloy who “prepared his meals, cleaned his residences, gave him massages, and were required to have sex with Quiboloy” during their ‘night duty’.
More of his former followers have revealed their experiences while servicing Quiboloy. In an interview with Rappler last December, Arlene Caminong Stone from Minnesota, Faith in Kentucky stated that she had served Quiboloy “like a maid for eight years.” She exposed Quiboloy having a “battery of spiritual wives” who Stone reported to have taken turns sleeping in his bedroom.
Quiboloy’s ‘pastorals’ reportedly consist of his ‘spiritual wives’ and female personal assistants who are victims of sexual abuse.
The self-claimed “appointed Son of God” deceived his victims, including minors, into engaging in sexual acts with him and that such acts made the “Father” happy. To refuse would put Quiboloy’s prey under the threat of harassment and “eternal damnation.”
Quiboloy’s lawyer Atty. Ferdinand Topacio claimed that these charges were blown out of proportion and is the United States’ way of influencing the Philippine 2022 national elections by linking Quiboloy to the Marcos-Duterte tandem.
However, last February 1, Quiboloy had already publicized his endorsement for the Marcos-Duterte tandem and had proclaimed the UniTeam to “win by landslide.”
“Without going into the merit, the timing of the release of this poster is very suspect… why did they wait until now when the elections are starting? The only logical reason here is that they are using the closeness of Pastor Quiboloy to President Duterte to indirectly bring Duterte down,” Topacio asserted.
Topacio believes Quiboloy is only being investigated because of his links to President Duterte, and that the trumped-up charges started only after Duterte’s election in 2016.
The self-styled preacher and sex trafficker has also previously endorsed current President Duterte last 2016 national elections, and likewise made a similar prediction. Quiboloy and Duterte have been closely tied prior to the 2016 elections, with the Presidential spiritual adviser allegedly gifting Duterte cars and properties.
Additionally, Quiboloy’s media network SMNI News has constantly peddled false news, disinformation, and black propaganda against the critics of the Duterte administration. A stark case is the network’s shameless undermining of media giant ABS-CBN’s shutdown.
This month, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) distributed to the state mouthpiece frequency bands previously owned by ABS-CBN.
Topacio’s claim, however, is false as former KOJC member Erlina Rillon already sued Quiboloy for allegedly brainwashing her teenage daughter and other female devotees.
For Quiboloy, all of these accusations are mere tribulations that he has to endure before the “Appointed Son of God”, as he calls himself, receives what his “Father” has promised.
“Anong pinagdaanan ni Moses? Hinabol siya ng taga Ehipto, pati army hinabol siya. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin. Pero pag nasa kamay ng Dyos ang isang tao. Do not underestimate, because miracles and miracles will take place. Ayaw kong mangyari yan sa humahabol sa akin. Satanas, bumagsak niya. Habol kasi siya ng habol eh… Makikilala ba si PACQ (Pastor Quiboloy) kung walang tribulations?” He said in an online sermon.
Ready for Extradition
The United States will likely ask for Quiboloy to be transferred to its jurisdiction through the extradition process as the crimes were committed within its territory.
“Pag natanggap namin ‘yong request, gagawin namin ‘yong trabaho nang naaayon sa batas at sa proseso na ginagawa namin sa departamento, regardless kung sino ‘yong personalidad na involved,” said DOJ Chief State Counsel George Ortha II.
When asked about possible Malacañang intervention, Ortha admitted that other executive agencies had sway in extradition proceedings, but urged the public to trust the DOJ to do its job.
“Basta susundin lang natin kung ano iyong nasa batas at susundin iyong proseso,” he assured.
Brosas lambasted Quiboloy’s victim complex, following his claims of being a ‘modern-day Joseph’. She cited Quiboloy’s various cases of sexual abuse against women and minors, and sex trafficking.
“For someone who is accused of molesting minors and trafficking victims to the US, Quiboloy must really be thick-faced to liken himself to Biblical figures. Sumuko na lang dapat siya.”
Featured image by ABC17News and Inquirer.Net
