The Dark World of the “Appointed Son of God”

Quiboloy had enormous influence on local and national politicians.

New Delhi:

On Sunday night in the southern Philippines, police arrested Apollo Quiboloy, a self-described “Appointed Son of God” and pastor of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church, after an extensive manhunt that lasted more than two weeks. The hunt for Quiboloy — an evangelist with a global reach, close ties to former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and millions of followers worldwide — culminated in his surrender to local police.

Quiboloy, 74, now faces charges of child sex trafficking, sexual abuse and human trafficking stemming from a 2021 U.S. indictment.

Quiboloy’s takeover

Born in the southern Philippines, Apollo Carreon Quiboloy is no ordinary preacher. He founded KOJC in 1985, a fringe religious organization that grew exponentially, attracting millions of followers in the Philippines and more than 200 countries. According to the New York Times, KOJC, which combines elements of Pentecostal Christianity with Quiboloy’s self-proclaimed godly status, quickly became a dominant force in the Philippines.

Quiboloy, known as a “spiritual advisor” to former President Rodrigo Duterte, wielded immense influence over local and national politicians. His ability to command large voting blocs earned him a reputation as a spiritual kingmaker. Many saw his support as essential to winning elections, particularly in Davao City, where he maintained a sprawling 75-hectare compound called “New Jerusalem.”

But according to U.S. and Philippine law enforcement agencies, Quiboloy’s spiritual kingdom concealed a much darker reality. His influence was not just political, but reportedly included the systematic abuse and exploitation of vulnerable women and children, who were forced into lives of servitude under the guise of faith.

Allegations of abuse and exploitation

In 2021, Quiboloy was indicted by the U.S. on charges of sex trafficking, sexual abuse, conspiracy, and forced labor. Quiboloy’s alleged victims, some as young as 12, were recruited as “pastoral”—personal assistants who were expected to attend to his every need, including sexual favors. These sexual encounters, called “night shifts,” were coerced under threat of spiritual and eternal damnation, U.S. prosecutors said. The indictment alleged that young women were forced to write “commitment letters” dedicating their lives and bodies to Quiboloy.

According to testimonies from some victims, those deemed to have “sinned” by resisting him were sent to “Prayer Mountain,” a remote compound on the outskirts of Davao City, where punishments included head shaving, physical beatings and other humiliating forms of discipline, the New York Times reported.

Human trafficking

Quiboloy’s alleged abuses were not limited to the Philippines. His church had an international footprint, and U.S. prosecutors revealed that his activities involved the trafficking of women and children across borders. According to the FBI, church members were sent to the United States on fraudulently obtained visas. There, they were forced to solicit donations for a supposed children’s charity called the “Children’s Joy Foundation.” However, those donations never reached underprivileged children. Instead, the funds supported the lavish lifestyles of Quiboloy and other church leaders, including private jets, luxury properties and other extravagances.

Quiboloy workers, many of whom were part of the large overseas Filipino workforce, were forced to solicit donations in countries including the United States, Singapore and the UAE. In some cases, church members endured near-slavery conditions, sleeping in cars and being denied food if they did not meet financial quotas.

The Fall of the ‘Appointed Son of God’

In the Philippines, Quiboloy continued to preach from his headquarters in Davao City and exert influence over local government officials. Despite being placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list in 2021, he has remained largely untouchable, protected by his powerful political allies, including Duterte.

This invincibility was put to the test when Philippine authorities, in coordination with the military, launched a massive raid on the Davao City compound of KOJC on August 24. Nearly 2,000 heavily armed police surrounded the church headquarters in search of the fugitive pastor. The operation resulted in a week-long standoff between law enforcement and church members, many of whom saw Quiboloy as a divine figure who was being unfairly persecuted.