Saga of KOJC’s Apollo Quiboloy, from temporary detainment in Hawaii to Davao ‘surrender’

Doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy has come out of hiding after months of evading warrants and a violent stand-off between authorities and his supporters from the controversial Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church in Davao City. His lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said his client had “voluntarily surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, specifically the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces, or ISAFP.” 

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Sunday, September 8, however, announced on Facebook Quiboloy’s supposed “arrest”. No other details of the alleged “surrender” or “arrest” were made available. Davao region police director Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III told Radyo 630 that it was Abalos who knew the details.

As of Sunday night, Quiboloy was known to have been brought to the Philippine National Police (PNP) custodial facility in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

In a statement, Quiboloy’s lawyer denied his client was arrested by the PNP under the Department of the Interior and Local Government. He hit Abalos for seeking attention “to the highest level” and for “seemingly taking credit for the non-existent arrest.”

Quiboloy is facing charges of sexual abuse of a minor, child abuse, and qualified trafficking in two separate courts in the Philippines. He and his associates at the KOJC have also been on the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most-wanted list since early 2022 for sex trafficking of children and promotional money laundering, among others.

The legal woes and allegations of abuse had surfaced years before, but Quiboloy enjoyed privilege and security under the administration of his close ally, then-president Rodrigo Duterte. But what happened over the years? Below is an extensive timeline of the Quiboloy saga — from his temporary detainment in Hawaii to his “surrender” in Davao.

February 15, 2018

A local Hawaii media outlet reports that Quiboloy was temporarily held in the US state after Customs and Border enforcement agencies found $350,000 in undeclared cash and rifle parts in the private plane he was sharing with five other people. 

February 13, 2020

California authorities announce that a federal grand jury has charged “three top administrators of a Philippines-based church with overseeing a labor trafficking scheme that forced church members to solicit donations for a bogus charity after the defendants illegally obtained visas and other immigration documents that allowed the workers to enter and remain in the United States.” The defendants do not include Quiboloy but members of his KOJC based in the US.

2021

November 18, 2021

US prosecutors announce new sex trafficking charges against Quiboloy, alleging that girls and young women were coerced to have sex with the doomsday preacher. The 74-page indictment accuses him and other KOJC officials of running a sex trafficking operation.

December 2021

Rappler starts publishing an investigative series on sexual abuse and fraud committed by Quiboloy and high-ranking officials within the church against members of the KOJC. Read the stories from this series below:

2022

January 31, 2022

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation includes Quiboloy and two of his associates — Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag — in its most wanted list. The poster accuses Quiboloy of “alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders.”

KOJ members, it added, “who proved successful at soliciting for the church allegedly were forced to enter into sham marriages or obtain fraudulent student visas to continue soliciting in the United States year-round.”

February 7, 2022

The Philippines’ Department of Justice (DOJ) — under Quiboloy’s ally, then-president Rodrigo Duterte — says that “urgency is the key factor” in its consideration whether or not to place the preacher on immigration lookout. Then-justice secretary Menardo Guevarra says that the agency “will play it by ear as we examine the evidence before us and as outside events unfold.”

December 9, 2022

The US imposes sanctions on Quiboloy in “connection to serious human rights abuse,” as he “took advantage of his leadership role within the KOJC to engage in a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape and other physical abuse involving minors as young as 11 years old from 2006 to at least 2020.”

This meant that all his properties and interests in the US or in possession of US citizens are blocked and must be referred to the treasury department, among others.

A day after, Quiboloy responds to the sanctions, lashing out at the US and saying that “I will not bow down to injustice. I will not kneel down to anyone who causes injustice.”

July 5, 2023

TikTok confirms to Rappler that Quiboloy’s account on the social media application was banned due to the US sanctions against the doomsday preacher. His YouTube channel was previously terminated by Google for the same reason.

August 31, 2023

Meta confirms to Rappler that it has taken down the Facebook and Instagram pages of Quiboloy due to its policies on Dangerous Organizations and Individuals.

December 11, 2023

Senator Risa Hontiveros files a resolution that seeks to initiate a Senate probe into the allegations against Quiboloy and the KOJC. This jumpstarts a series of congressional hearings where former church members and victims narrate more incidents of human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence.

Read stories from the Senate hearings:

2024

February 27, 2024

Former president Rodrigo Duterte advises his close ally Quiboloy to “just get yourself arrested.” He downplays the US cases against the preacher, tagging them as minor cases. 

March 1, 2024

A California judge moves to unseal warrants and returns against Quiboloy and other defendants — years after they were issued in November 2021 — making the documents public. The US Attorneys’ Office says the move comes since “a number of defendants were already taken into custody.”

March 4, 2024

The DOJ under Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla orders the filing of child abuse and human trafficking cases against Quiboloy and five of his close associates.

March 8, 2024

Rodrigo Duterte becomes the “new administrator for KOJC properties.”

March 12, 2024

Rappler starts publication of its investigative series on the multi-million properties linked to Quiboloy and the KOJC in the United States and Canada. Four of the currently owned properties have a total estimated value of US$9.07 million (P503 million.) If the property sold in 2018 is included, the total value would go up to $10.83 million (P601 million). 

Read the two-part series:

March 14, 2024

Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 12 issues an arrest warrant against Quiboloy and five associates — Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada, and Sylvia Cemañes — in relation to child abuse and sexual abuse charges.

March 18, 2024

Quiboloy faces a non-bailable case of human trafficking filed at a Pasig City court. In a statement, Remulla says this “underscores our commitment to hold accountable those who would harm our society’s most vulnerable. Let this serve as a reminder that no individual, regardless of their position, is above the law.”

March 19, 2024

The Senate orders the arrest of Quiboloy for “unduly refusing to appear” during its hearings into the alleged abuses within the KOJC. Then-Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri says in a statement that the Senate committee chairperson Hontiveros, who led the inquiry, “found no merit in the explanation of Quiboloy and has ruled to deny the reliefs prayed for.”

April 3, 2024

State agents arrest Cresente Canada — a barangay chief who also serves as Quiboloy’s driver and bodyguard — following the issuance of a warrant. Two associates — KOJC chief financial officer Paulene Canada and coordinator Sylvia Cemañes — surrendered to authorities on the same day. The three posted bail.

April 4, 2024

Quiboloy close aides Ingrid Canada and Jackielyn Roy surrender to the National Bureau of Investigation.

April 6, 2024

Quiboloy breaks his silence and says that he will not be caught alive. He alleges a conspiracy between the Marcos administration and the US government to assassinate him.

“Tandaan po ninyo: Ako’y mamamatay with honor. Tatayo ako para sa mga ginipit, kinunan ng katarungan, kinunan ng hustisya sa bansang ito. Dito tutulo ang aking dugo. Dito ako mamamatay. Bahala na, basta Pilipino ang papatay sa akin. OK sa akin iyon,” the doomsday preacher says in an audio recording that is released.

(Remember this: I will die with honor. I will stand for the oppressed, those deprived of justice, and those deprived of fairness in this country. Here, my blood will be shed. Here, I will die. Let it be, as long as it’s a Filipino who kills me. That’s OK with me.)

April 11, 2024

The Department of Justice announces that a Pasig City court has issued arrest warrants against Quiboloy and five associates over qualified human trafficking.

Later that day, Duterte calls on his friend Quiboloy to leave him out of the mess.

April 25, 2024

KOJC supporters raise funds to mark the 74th birthday of their leader, the fugitive Quiboloy.

April 26, 2024

PNP confirms that it has revoked the firearms licenses of the embattled Quiboloy upon the recommendation of its Firearms and Explosives Office.

A Rappler investigation published early April discovers that Quiboloy has at least 19 firearms with an estimated value of about P2.3 million ($41,000). Thirteen of these licenses will expire in April 2033, which means that the licenses were issued only in April 2023. 

May 27, 2024

Cresente Canada, a security aide and co-accused of Quiboloy, surrenders at least 21 firearms to the PNP. But the guns were owned by him, and not licensed under the fugitive pastor.

May 28, 2024

The Supreme Court allows the transfer of cases against Quiboloy from Davao City to Quezon City. The DOJ made the request in April “so that the same team of prosecutors may be able to prosecute both cases together” and that “the significance of the subject cases extends beyond the local context, touching on broader national policies, public interest, and security concerns.”

June 10, 2024

Tension begins to rise between the PNP and KOJC followers as the former moves to implement arrest warrants issued against Quiboloy in Davao City. This begins the months-long standoff between the two parties, which resulted in arrests of Quiboloy supporters.

July 8, 2024

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos announces a P10-million reward for anyone who can give necessary information that could lead to Quiboloy’s arrest. A P1-million reward is also released for details about the five other wanted associates. Marcos says he sees nothing wrong with the reward, following a complaint from Quiboloy’s camp that it was “discriminatory.”

July 11, 2024

 Authorities arrest KOJC chief financial officer Paulene Canada in Davao City. She was previously arrested on a separate charge but was allowed to post bail.

August 8, 2024

The Court of Appeals orders the freezing of at least 10 bank accounts under Quiboloy’s name, aside from seven real properties and five motor vehicles. This move grants the petition filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

The order also includes the KOJC and Swara Sug Media Corporation which owns Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI)’s franchise.

August 20, 2024

Davao regional police chief Nicolas Torre III tells the Senate that a Pasig City court has issued an alias warrant of arrest against Quiboloy in relation to a human trafficking case. An alias warrant is issued when the original warrant has not been served, allowing authorities to renew efforts to catch the suspect.

August 24, 2024

Torre says that an estimated 2,000 police personnel are involved in the ongoing operation to arrest Quiboloy. Hundreds of them seal a section of a Davao City major road outside of the KOJC compound on this day.

August 25, 2024

Vice President Sara Duterte says she “vehemently condemns the gross abuse of police power in the takeover of the KOJC compound, which led to the harassment of religious worshipers, the abuse of minors, and the unnecessary loss of life.”

The PNP, meanwhile, rescues two alleged trafficking victims — a woman from Cotabato province and a 21-year-old male from Samar — from the compound.

The day turns for the worse as violence erupts between followers and police. Protesters accuse authorities of using tear gas as a way to disperse the crowd.

August 26, 2024

Journalists covering the developments related to Quiboloy and the ongoing manhunt are subjected to threats and harassment from KOJC followers. The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines urges both parties to “let the media do their job.”

Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, son of the former president, releases a statement saying that his camp has observed that cops are “no longer following proper procedure in implementing the warrant especially the use of excessive force against innocent citizens.” He asks the PNP, “How long do you intend to stay at the KOJC property?”

Davao regional police chief Torre responds days after: ““Hanggang kailan ba natin i-insist ang hustisya?” (Until when should we keep insisting on justice?)

August 27, 2024

Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 15 issues a temporary protection order in favor of KOJC and directs the PNP to “immediately cease and desist from any act of omission that threatens the life, liberty, or security, as well as the properties, of the petitioners.”

Judge Mario Duaves also orders the PNP to remove restrictions that hinder supporters from accessing the KOJC compound. The petition is filed by KOJC lawyer Israelito Torreon. The group also files another petition the day after.

Meanwhile, the PNP confirms that police personnel from Western Visayas will be deployed to Davao City to help in the manhunt operation against Quiboloy.

August 29, 2024

PNP Davao region spokesperson Major Catherine dela Rey says that they have filed complaints against 29 Quiboloy followers for obstruction of justice and direct assault following the violent standoff. She adds that they will be released from custody after posting bail.

At least 60 cops have been injured, according to police.

September 1, 2024

Vice President Sara Duterte asks for forgiveness from KOJC members for asking them to support Marcos, her running mate, during the 2022 presidential elections. This further marks the gap between the two former allies.

September 2, 2024

Tensions rise and emotions flare as the PNP forces open a gate of a KOJC compound as part of its manhunt. Davao regional police chief Nicolas Torre addresses supporters, telling them that there are “no more negotiations, arrest anyone who obstructs.”

September 3, 2024

The CA nullifies the temporary protection order issued by Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 15, saying that Judge Mario Duaves should not have issued such order to prevent any semblance of bias or influence.

September 5, 2024

Davao Region police chief Torre urges the public not to fall for propaganda from the Quiboloy camp. This comes after an anonymous letter claiming to be from disgruntled police officers goes viral on social media.

September 8, 2024

The PNP gets hold of Quiboloy following a manhunt that lasted for months. His alleged “arrest” is announced on Facebook by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos who, according to Davao region police director Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III, knows all the details about the operation.