The Fall

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Police detained a highly influential Philippine evangelist pastor in the southern Philippines this week on charges including sexual abuse and human trafficking, an arrest that marked a dramatic turn for a figure who once seemed untouchable in the Southeast Asian nation, CNN reported.

Apollo Quiboloy, a self-proclaimed “appointed son of God” and founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), was arrested Sunday after a two-week standoff at his compound in the city of Davao.

His arrest followed a major operation involving more than 2,000 security forces, who surrounded his 75-acre compound. The standoff was marked by a series of clashes between Quiboloy’s followers and police that left more than 60 officers injured and one follower dead from a heart attack, according to NBC News.

The 74-year-old preacher faces a series of accusations both in the Philippines and the United States, including human trafficking, sexual abuse, child trafficking, and coercion.

US authorities have accused him of running a sex trafficking ring for nearly 15 years and using his religious influence to force young women into sexual relationships, threatening them with “eternal damnation” if they don’t comply. He has also appeared on the FBI’s most wanted posters.

Quiboloy has denied the charges and accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of conspiring with the US to “eliminate” him.

On Monday, Philippine authorities denied his request to quash his extradition to the US. However, officials added he would first face trial and serve any given sentence in the Philippines before the extradition process could begin, Reuters noted.

Quiboloy founded KOJC in 1985 and claims to have seven million followers worldwide. The church operates a range of businesses, including media outlets, resorts and educational institutions.

The preacher is known for his lavish lifestyle and is considered a highly influential figure in Philippine politics, particularly due to his association with Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte – whom Quiboloy served as his spiritual adviser.

His arrest has drawn mixed reactions in the Philippines and is expected to create political ripples, including further deteriorating the alliance between Marcos and Sara Duterte, the country’s vice president and Duterte’s daughter.

During the 2022 presidential election, Quiboloy was an outspoken supporter of the Marcos-Duterte ticket. Soon after winning the election, the Marcos administration began to distance itself from some of the political alliances formed under Duterte.

A week before the arrest, Sara Duterte publicly apologized to Quiboloy’s followers for endorsing Marcos during the election.

Meanwhile, former President Duterte filed a criminal complaint against Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and police officers for damaging Quiboloy’s property during the raid.