More Alleged Victims Come Forward Against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy — BenarNews

More alleged victims of Philippine megachurch leader Apollo Quiboloyincluding minors, have come forward after his arrest on Sept. 8 to provide details about how he sexually abused them, police said Wednesday.

The national police chief told reporters in Manila that several female victims provided crucial information about the reported abuse of young women under the influence of Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church and spiritual adviser to the former president Rodrigo Duterte.

These individuals were referred to as personal assistants or “pastorals” within Quiboloy’s church and were allegedly exploited and manipulated, said Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, director of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“These courageous victims have spoken out and revealed their harrowing experiences. The abuse they endured shows an alarming pattern of manipulation and exploitation,” Marbil said, without naming the witnesses.

“These so-called ‘inner circle pastorals’ were particularly vulnerable, with victims as young as 12 years old. Their testimonies have been crucial in revealing the full extent of Quiboloy’s alleged crimes,” he added.

Marbil said investigators were evaluating and verifying information from the alleged victims. He did not provide additional details.

“This is just the beginning. Police are thoroughly examining the evidence to ensure we build a solid case against Quiboloy. We will leave no stone unturned in this quest for justice,” Marbil said.

Marbil urged other potential victims of Quiboloy to come forward.

Quiboloy and four associates – KOJC officials Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente Canada and Sylvia Cemanes – were arrested on Sunday night at the church’s sprawling compound in southern Davao City, after a months-long manhunt for the televangelist.

They are still being held in police cells in Manila and will be arraigned on Friday.

On Wednesday, PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo told reporters that alleged victims contacted the police during an operation to issue arrest warrants against Quiboloy and others in the KOJC complex.

“During the 16-day police operation, some people approached the PNP and said they were also victims of Pastor Quiboloy,” Fajardo said.

“So we document those complaints without revealing the identities of the potential victims. We are now in the process of documenting those additional complaints.”

KOJC lawyer Israelito Torreon did not immediately respond to the PNP’s latest allegations. But he said earlier that the pastor had denied all the allegations against him.

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In November 2021, a U.S. grand jury charged Quiboloy is accused of running a sex trafficking ring in which girls as young as 12 were forced to have sex with him or risk “eternal damnation,” federal prosecutors said.

According to U.S. prosecutors, the televangelist recruited girls and young women, ranging in age from 12 to 25, to work as personal assistants, or “pastorals,” at his church. KOJC has offices in California.

Based on the charges brought against him by US federal authorities, Quiboloy faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted of human trafficking, and five to twenty years if convicted of fraud and money laundering.

In June, former President Duterte accused the government of persecuting Quiboloy, calling raids on the televangelist’s known properties in Davao City “exaggerated.”

Quiboloy founded KOJC in 1985. The sect, and its name, rose to national prominence after Duterte was elected president of the Philippines in 2016.

In March, Quiboloy’s church appointed Duterte as manager of its properties, while he himself went into hiding to avoid arrest.

Jeoffrey Maitem in southern Davao City and Gerard Carreon in Manila contributed to this report.

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