Quiboloy whistleblowers urge KOJC followers to leave while they still can

Despite the threats they’ve received, whistleblowers Reynita Fernandez, Faith Killion and Arlene Stone still hope to save more followers from Apollo Quiboloy’s kingdom

CEBU, Philippines – Former members of doomsayer Apollo Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) urged his followers to “wake up” and leave the organization while they still can.

“You need to get out while you still can. This is the perfect time because there are many agencies that want to help you. Our government wants to help you,” KOJC whistleblower Arlene Stone said during an episode of Rappler Talk on Monday, September 16.

She referred to the fact that Quiboloy has been placed under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP) after a two-week standoff at the KOJC compound in Davao City. The doomsday preacher is now facing a series of charges of child sexual abuse and human trafficking in the country.

Stone, along with former KOJC followers Reynita Fernandez and Faith Killion, exposed the inner workings of Quiboloy’s organization in reports that supported a 74-page indictment document filed in the United States against the self-proclaimed “Son of God.”

In 2021, the three whistleblowers shared their stories with Rappler, leading to the publication of investigative reports on the exploitation of minors and KOJC members, especially women.

“(Quiboloy) has isolated you from everyone, locked you in so you don’t know what’s going on outside. Quiboloy is just one of (the leaders of) these vanquished cults, like Jim Jones, David Koresh, Jung Myung Seok and other delusional cult leaders,” Killion said.

Threatened for speaking out

In their efforts to reach their followers, Stone, Fernandez and Killion said they faced threats, intimidation attempts and insults over the years, even from family members who supported Quiboloy.

“Three times in a row in just two months, they hacked my Facebook account and my husband’s accounts. This is not a coincidence. It was done on purpose,” Killion said in a mix of English and Filipino.

In Stone’s case, her sister, a KOJC member, wrote a social media post claiming the whistleblower had been raped by one of her siblings and insinuating that Stone had multiple relationships with men.

Fernandez said her brother, who is a KOJC pastor, shunned her family and preferred Quiboloy and his teachings over them.

“Insecure i young fear how can i what if iyong kapatid ko mismo e magdadala ng threat his belly family name (I’m afraid of uncertainty, because what if my own brother or sister threatens our entire family),” Fernandez said.

Stone recalled that there were former members who were reportedly killed by Quiboloy’s “angels of death” for speaking out against the KOJC.

“Before they were killed, they were just like us speaking up. There was one who actually did a Facebook livestream and when they got home, they were killed,” Stone said in Filipino.

All three whistleblowers were also named in more than a dozen cyber libel complaints filed by Quiboloy’s followers, which Killion alleges were used to intimidate them. Rappler was also named in the complaint.

In May 2022, prosecutors in Davao dismissed cyber libel complaints filed by the followers against Rappler, the journalists, a spokesperson and the three whistleblowers.

“It’s hard to believe, but you have to believe that the truth is now before us… Get out (of the KOJC),” Fernandez said. – Rappler.com