Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy went into hiding shortly after the Senate issued an arrest order against him for refusing to attend the chamber’s hearings.
The Department of Justice then announced that Qualified Human Trafficking charges under Section 4 (a) of Republic Act 9208, as amended, pursuant to the Resolution were filed before a Pasig court against the Davao-based religious leader.
Quiboloy was also charged under Section 5(b) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and under Section 10(a) of the same act before a Davao court.
April 2024 — A Davao court issued a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy and five others.
Authorities later served the warrant against him, but he was not found at the KOJC compound in Davao City. The warrant was handed to the administrator of the property.
The warrants were separately served to three of his co-accused, but they were released after posting bail. The remaining two co-accused later surrendered to authorities but were also released after posting bail.
Quiboloy later said he was ready to face his cases in the country provided that the Marcos administration give him written assurance that the United States would not interfere in his legal battle in the Philippines.
A Pasig court also issued warrants of arrest against Quiboloy and others.
May 2024 — The Supreme Court allowed the transfer of the cases filed against Quiboloy in Davao to Quezon City to avoid a miscarriage of justice.
June 2024 — Authorities served the warrants against Quiboloy at the KOJC compound, the Prayer Mountain, and the Glory Mountain in Barangay Tamayong, Davao City, as well as on the KOJC’s property in Kitbog, Sarangani Province, but did not find the pastor.
The KOJC ”strongly condemned” the actions of authorities ”as they were not only laden with irregularities, but they were excessive and overkill.”
However, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said that the police lawfully served the warrant and that Quiboloy’s supporters even used water cannons against the police.
July 2024 — Abalos said private individuals wanted to help in apprehending Quiboloy and offered a P10 million reward for information that will lead to his arrest.
Quiboloy’s camp later questioned the motives of the private individuals who offered the bounty.
Asked about the matter, Marcos challenged Quiboloy to show up and face his accusations. The President said the government was just following the law.
Abalos said he believes Quiboloy is still in the Philippines.
August 2024 —The Court of Appeals (CA) issued a freeze order against Quiboloy’s 10 bank accounts, seven real properties, five motor vehicles, and one aircraft.
The order also included the bank accounts of KOJC and the Swara Sug Media Corporation.
On August 24, around 2,000 PNP personnel trooped to the KOJC Compound in Davao City to serve an arrest warrant against Quiboloy. Hundreds of personnel from the PNP Regional Office XI (PRO 11) were seen at the entrance of the KOJC compound in Buhangin District before dawn.
A KOJC member allegedly died during the operation due to a heart attack.
Quiboloy’s lawyer, Israelito Torreon, called on the police to “stop their harassment” and to leave the compound.
Torreon assured that the KOJC Board of Administrators have consistently reported that Quiboloy was not at the compound.
He also said that he has not seen the pastor since March, where he saw Quiboloy riding a car while departing the compound.
He also said that he had not talked to Quiboloy since then, and that he had no idea where he was.
Abalos earlier expressed optimism that Quiboloy remains inside the KOJC compound.
As of August 31, a total of 29 KOJC members are facing complaints after 60 police officers were injured implementing the arrest warrants against Quiboloy, according to PRO 11.
Among the complaints against the KOJC members are obstruction of justice and direct assault.
Authorities also reported the discovery of what they said are secret hallways inside the compound’s cathedral.
Apart from the arrest order, Quiboloy was also indicted by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California for 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.
In 2022, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation also issued “wanted” posters for Quiboloy and two other members of his KOJC, namely Teresita Tolibas Dandan and Helen Panilag.
Quiboloy’s camp, however, has repeatedly denied the allegations against the 74-year-old religious leader.—RF, GMA Integrated News
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