Recently, broadcast network Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) and religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder, self-proclaimed “appointed son of God,” Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, have dominated headlines as controversies about himself, his church, and his network continue to unfold.
From labor trafficking schemes to sex-related crimes, Quiboloy has successfully drawn an image for himself opposing the one he tried to build for a long time—divine and holy. Now that investigations have tightened and his battle for innocence is uphill, where do we see Quiboloy from here?
The Appointed Son
The Davao-based pastor is popular for his claims about himself, which were mostly poked fun of across social media platforms.
Calling himself the “appointed son of God,” claiming he has the power to stop an earthquake, and preaching that his “signature” is needed for everyone’s salvation, are just a few of his made-to-meme remarks.
However, we may not believe in magic or any divine being, but he sure has some sort of power—one that grants one to others.
Quiboloy is an influential Duterte ally. His church played a vital role in sending former President Rodrigo Duterte to power in 2016; likewise, in the landslide win of the now President and Vice President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte-Carpio tandem in the 2022 elections.
In fact, even before the Dutertes reached the national government, their relationship was already established. To this date, there seems to be no separating them.
However, these powerful ties and connections could not keep his dirty, not-so-little secrets hidden—not for long.
Cries and Confessions
Last January, several former members of KOJC appeared before the Senate inquiry with their accusations and testimonies against the “appointed son.”
Amanda, not her real name, narrated her traumatizing experiences back when she was a full-time “miracle worker” for the church.
She was only 12 years old when she started attending the kingdom; 16 when she got promoted as a close-in pastoral; and 17 when she was raped by the pastor.
In the hearing, Amanda testified about how Quiboloy sexually abused her.
One night, a certain Jackielyn Roy tasked Amanda with “sanctifying” herself by submitting to the pastor.
“Sabi niya, parte daw ng trabaho ng Ministry of the Pastorals na i-masahe si Quiboloy. Sabi niya, special privilege daw ito dahil hindi naman daw lahat nahahawakan at nakakalapit sa Anak ng Diyos. Sabi niya pa, wag ko daw pagdudahan ang anuman na mangyayari sa loob ng kwarto kasama si Qiuboloy, basta ibigay ko lang daw ang sarili ko,” Amanda recalled.
After directing Amanda to clean herself first, Roy also instructed her on how to “properly” massage the pastor. Thereafter, she told the then-17-year-old not to leave the room until he specifically told her to do so.
She was even told that coming near and touching the appointed son of God was a “special privilege”—one she never thought would give her nightmares.
In tears, she detailed her horrifying experiences.
“Sinimulan niyang tanggalin ang butones ng T-shirt ko, hanggang sa tuluyan niyang tinanggal ang buong t-shirt ko. Sabi nya, tumalikod daw ako, sumunod lang ako at doon, tinanggal niya ang aking bra. Pagkatapos, hinawakan niya ang balikat ko at hinila pahiga sa kama,” she recalled, then continued to narrate her traumatizing encounter.
Since then, Amanda shared that she has observed other close-in pastorals being instructed the same way she was.
Crown of Crimes
In 2021, a federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Central District of California indicted Quiboloy for the following: conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking; sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.
Stemming from the confessions and testimonies of victims, the indictment highlighted accusations of forced solicitation, disguised as one for charity, to fund the church’s operations and its leaders’ lavish lifestyle.
Human trafficking and sexual crimes were also revealed in the indictment. Allegedly, female recruits, referred to as “pastorals,” were coerced to serve the pastor in different ways and conditions, including through sexual activities tagged as “night duty.” These victims were also brought to the US illegally—through force and fraudulently-obtained visas.
This urged the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to put Quiboloy on their most wanted list.
Moreover, in the Philippines, the Department of Justice has reversed the dismissal of Quiboloy’s 2020 case filed by a former KOJC member who accused him of raping her in 2014. This is after the victim submitted a petition for review to the department. The 2020 case was dismissed by the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office.
As another qualified human trafficking case is to be filed before a Pasig City court, the DOJ, according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, has signed a preliminary hold departure order and a lookout bulletin order against Quiboloy, preventing him from fleeing the country.
Aside from these, SMNI also faced its own legal challenges.
After the House of Representatives issued House Bill No. 189 urging the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to suspend the operation of Swara Sug Media Corporation, SMNI’s operator, an indefinite suspension of the network's operations for violating its franchise’s terms and conditions was issued by the commission. The suspension was, however, ignored by the network.
Moreover, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) also suspended two of SMNI’s shows for airing unverified information and death threats.
Citing these, Senator Risa Hontiveros, the chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, filed Senate Resolution No. 884, initiating probe into the reported “large-scale human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, violence, and child abuse” within the church.
However, the pastor never attended any of the several hearings and inquiries conducted by the Senate.
Meanwhile, as he continued to not show up to any judicial inquiry he was being summoned upon, his followers were very much present, staging a series of protests along the streets of Manila from March 9–12, calling for justice for the clergyman.
With all this, Sen. Hontiveros called for his arrest—a call blocked by a motion for contempt initiated by another politician that Quiboloy and his followers brought to power—Sen. Robinhood “Robin” Padilla.
Power, Politics, and Personal Relationships
Following the said motion, Senators Cynthia Villar, Imee Marcos, Bong Go, and JV Ejercito have signed a written manifestation opposing the Senate’s arrest of Quiboloy, says Padilla in a press conference.
Their reason? Personal relationships.
These senators have some sort of relationship with the pastor—from businesses to politics to personal ones. Hence, it is not utterly surprising that they will stand behind his back.
Although Ejercito had already withdrawn his signature from the objection letter just lately, the rest stayed firm with their stand, at least as of writing.
“You don’t do that to a friend,” says Sen. Villar, pertaining to her objection.
But what about the victims, Senator? They may not be your friends, but they are the people you ought to serve.
“He fought the NPA,” Sen. Padilla reasoned as if fighting a movement rooted in social injustices was justified to cover up his crimes.
Also, Vice President Duterte-Carpio has recently claimed that the pastor is being targeted unfairly as he is seemingly being handed a “guilty” verdict by the recent Senate hearings, disregarding due process.
Clearly, power and influence play a vital role in this issue. Quiboloy continues to have a significant influence on the country's political landscape.
As long as politicians cannot set their personal interests aside, their personal relationships will matter more than anything else, justice will remain elusive, and the victims’ suffering will continue until only God knows when.
Now that investigations have tightened and his battle for innocence uphill, when will his friends continue to find ways for him not to show up?
Article: Charles Vincent Nagaño
Graphics: Yuko Shimomura
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