DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 8 March) – Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte has been appointed administrator of the properties of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
This developed after its founder, embattled international evangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy, has gone into hiding amid the serious criminal charges he is facing in the country and in the United States.
“Former President Rodrigo Duterte is appointed as new administrator for KOJC properties,” the Quiboloy-led Sonshine Media News Network (SMNI News) announced on X (formerly Twitter) Friday.
Duterte is a long-time friend and close ally of Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” who supported his candidacy during the presidential race in 2016 and the candidacy of former Davao City Mayor and now Vice President Sara Duterte and her running mate, now President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in the May 2022 elections.
The announcement came days after Senator Risa Hontiveros cited Quiboloy in contempt and sought his arrest for defying to appear and testify during an investigation in aid of legislation conducted last Tuesday by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.
Responding to the subpoena served upon Quiboloy, his counsel Atty. Elvis Balayan said forcing the pastor to attend the senate investigation “violated his constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty and his right against self-incrimination.”
Based on reports, Senators Robin Padilla, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Cynthia Villar, Imee Marcos, and JV Ejercito have so far objected to the contempt ruling of Hontiveros, who chairs the committee.
Last Wednesday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered the filing of sexual abuse and human trafficking cases against Quiboloy.
Remulla’s directive overturned the June 2020 resolution of the Office of the City Prosecutor of Davao that dismissed the complaints for rape, qualified human trafficking, and child abuse against Quiboloy.
“Upon reevaluation, it has been determined that there exists probable cause against Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy for the crime of sexual abuse of a minor, under Section 5(b) of Republic Act No. 7610, as well as against Quiboloy and co- respondents for qualified human trafficking and other acts of child abuse,” a press release issued by Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday stated.
It said that “complainant-appellant’s allegations, which date back to 2011, highlight a series of abuses, including an act of rape in September 2014 when she was a minor, emotional and physical mistreatment, and forced labor without compensation, all under the guise of religious service at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name.”
The DOJ also announced that an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order has been issued against Quiboloy last February 27, as a measure to prevent him from fleeing the country.
Quiboloy is also wanted by the United States (US) government.
In November 2021, a US federal warrant was issued against Quiboloy and church members Teresita Tolibas Dalandan, and Helen Panilag. In February 2022, they were placed on the wanted list of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation amid numerous indictments “for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.”
In December 2022, the US Department of the Treasury included Quiboloy in the list of over 40 individuals from different countries whose assets have been frozen after being linked to corruption and human rights abuse.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued the sanctions in time then for the Human Rights Day and International Anti-Corruption Day to “demonstrate the US government’s focus on promoting respect for human rights and countering corruption.”
It said Quiboloy is designated pursuant to E.O. 13818 “for being a foreign person who is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse.”
The OFAC said all property and interests in property of the designated persons that “are in the US or in the possession or control of US persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC, including those assets that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more.” (Antonio Colina / MindaNews)