MARISSA Duenas, the human resources manager for the California branch of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC), has entered into a plea bargaining agreement with the US Attorney’s Office.
The 15-page agreement was signed by Assistant US Attorney Gregory Staples on Tuesday, October 8. Duenas and her lawyer John Littrell signed it a day earlier.
Duenas agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges for defrauding the US in exchange for a reduced sentence.
As part of the agreement, federal prosecutors will drop the remaining charges against Duenas, which were tied to her role in a larger investigation into KoJC’s alleged labor trafficking activities.
This case is part of an ongoing investigation involving KoJC leader Pastor Quiboloy, who is on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most wanted list.
The KoJC founder and several of his associates were indicted by a US federal grand jury in 2021.
They are accused of orchestrating a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members into the US using fraudulently obtained visas.
These individuals were allegedly forced to solicit donations for a fake charity, with the funds reportedly used to finance the extravagant lifestyles of Quiboloy and other church leaders.
Quiboloy is also accused of sexually exploiting women and underage girls, under the pretense of religious duty.
The indictment alleged they recruited females ages 12 to 25 as personal assistants, or “pastorals,” who were required to prepare Quiboloy’s meals, clean his residences, give him massages, and travel with him.
The pastorals were coerced to have sex with Quiboloy during what they called “night duty,” under the threat of “eternal damnation” and physical abuse, according to the indictment.
It also charged bulk cash smuggling and money laundering, alleging that funds were illegally sent back to the Philippines through various means, such as church workers carrying $9,000 in cash hidden in socks and luggage when they returned to Manila.
Larger amounts were transported in KoJC’s private jets under Quiboloy’s direction.
In February 2018, Quiboloy tried to stash over $335,000 in his luggage on a flight from California to the Philippines, according to the indictment.
The church leader has denied the accusations, but US authorities have intensified their crackdown on the operations of KoJC in light of the growing evidence of labor exploitation and fraud.
Quiboloy surrendered to authorities in Davao City last month and is currently detained in Manila. He faces multiple charges, including child abuse, sexual abuse, and human trafficking.
Despite his detention, he has filed his candidacy to run for the Senate in the 2025 elections under the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP).
WPP President Sonny Matula however said that Quiboloy is not a member of the party. Quiboloy has no official endorsement from the group.
Matula, who is also running for senator next year, said WPP is conducting an internal investigation into the alleged Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CoNA) issued by the party for Quiboloy.
“We are looking into how he was able to obtain a CoNA under our party, given that only three individuals are authorized to sign such documents on behalf of WPP: the chairman, the president, and the senior vice president,” the labor leader said in a statement.
He denied signing a CoNA for Quiboloy, and added that the party’s chairman and senior vice president “both have confirmed that they, too, did not sign any such document.”
Commenting on Duenas’ plea bargain, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said “the day of getting justice for the victims of Apollo Quiboloy’s crime is approaching, both inside and outside the country.”
Hontiveros said the plea deal is a significant step towards securing accountability for Quiboloy’s long list of crimes.
“I also hope that Ms. Duenas, given her position in KoJC, would be open to participating in our continuing investigation into the various allegations of abuses and criminal acts by Quiboloy,” said Hontiveros, chairman of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.
She also hoped that Duenas and the other co-accused of Quiboloy “will listen to their conscience and reveal the truth and everything they know.” Hontiveros urged the Department of Justice to extend the necessary legal assistance to any co-accused or any other person willing to cooperate towards attaining justice for the many women, children and other victims of Quiboloy’s crimes.
The Senate will resume its hearing on the alleged abuses by Quiboloy in the third week of October.
Senate President Francis Escudero said Hontiveros had permission to use the plenary to investigate the complaints and cases against the televangelist.
Escudero did not mention a specific date, but said the hearing will probably be set before the Senate resumes session on November 4.
In the last hearing, two Ukrainian women and a Filipina testified about alleged sexual abuses by Quiboloy, the self-styled “Appointed Son of God.”
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