Philippine authorities on Sunday announced the “arrest” of a self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” wanted in the United States for child sex trafficking after months of evading warrants.
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who also claims to be “The Owner of the Universe” is on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) “wanted” list 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; bulk cash smuggling.”
He was charged by the US Justice Department in 2021 with sex trafficking of girls and women between the ages of 12 and 25 to work as personal assistants, or “pastorals”, who were allegedly required to have sex with him.
Quiboloy, who has close relations with former president Rodrigo Duterte, is the founder of the Philippines-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church which claims millions of members.
On a Facebook post, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos announced the pastor’s supposed “arrest” but no other details were given. On Sunday night, it was reported that Quiboloy was transferred to the Philippine National Police custodial facility in Camp Crame in the capital region.
Agence France Presse reported that the pastor and four other sect members were taken into custody at the church’s compound in Davao City following negotiations between his representatives and the police and military.
Colonel Jean Fajardo of the national police said, “This afternoon they negotiated their peaceful surrender after we gave them a 24-hour ultimatum.”
Quiboloy is also sought by US authorities for bulk cash smuggling and a scheme that brought church members to the United States using fraudulently obtained visas.
They were then forced to solicit donations for a bogus charity, raising funds that were instead used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders, according to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Davao region police director Brigadier-General Nicolas Torre said the arrest of Quiboloy is “a concerted effort of everyone involved,” adding, “Let’s be proud. We did our job today.”
Some 2,000 police were deployed at the KOJC headquarters in Davao on August 24 to serve an arrest warrant against Quiboloy. – with reports from Agence France-Presse
