The following formal Caution remains on the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) website:
“Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, the founder of a Philippines-based church, is wanted for his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders. Members who proved successful at soliciting for the church allegedly were forced to enter into sham marriages or obtain fraudulent student visas to continue soliciting in the United States year-round. Furthermore, it is alleged that females were recruited to work as personal assistants, or ‘pastorals,’ for Quiboloy and that victims prepared his meals, cleaned his residences, gave him massages, and were required to have sex with Quiboloy in what the pastorals called ‘night duty.’ Quiboloy was indicted by a federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Santa Ana, California, 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, and on November 10, 2021, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest. If you have any information concerning this person, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.”
According to Secretary Crispin Remulla of the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ), the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founding leader may have surrendered when he was about to get caught after a Philippine National Police (PNP) ultimatum yesterday, September 8.
Details of Quiboloy’s arrest are still a bit elusive, but it is said that he was arrested in a building inside the KOJC compound in Davao City, put on a military aircraft, and since last night he has been in the custodial center of Camp Crame in Quezon City. (PNA: “Quiboloy, 4 aides detained in Camp Crame”)
He and his aides will be in the same compound as dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Guo Hua Ping, also known as Alice Guo, a suspected Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) associate who was detained last September 6 after her arrest in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Justice will now surely roll for both sides because it is on the right course. The KOJC leader can now defend himself against the allegations leveled against him based on the documents of the FBI, NBI, PNP, Senate, House of Representatives, a Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC), and a Davao City RTC.
Some cases were previously transferred to Quezon City because according to the Supreme Court: “In A.M. No. 24-04-29-RTC (Re: Transfer of Venue of Criminal Case Nos. R-DVO-24-1439-CR and R-DVO-24-01440-CR)), the Court found compelling reasons to justify the transfer of venue as the cases involve public interest, with the accused, a well-known religious leader, being influential in the area. As this could cause local biases and a strong possibility that witnesses cannot freely testify due to fear and influence of the accused, the Court found it prudent and judicious to order the transfer of the cases to Quezon City.”
Quiboloy can also be extradited to the US to be held accountable there, according to the DOJ. They are still studying if that is the best, or if one at a time, or if his cases should be handled simultaneously. There is no problem if he is extradited because there is an extradition treaty between the Philippines and the US and it is considered part of the law of the land, says the Secretary of Justice, who is now handling a lot of high-profile cases of fugitives, including former Bureau of Corrections Director-General Gerald Bantag for the deaths of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and alleged middleman Jun Villamor. There is also expelled congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr., who is still under the custody of the police in Timor Leste and had to be “re-arrested” there before his extradition to the country so that he can face multiple murder charges.
So “do not judge?” That is incomplete. People of the Philippines and all nation-states should have the discernment, the capacity to judge, and the determination of right and wrong, as well as truths and lies. “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment,” according to Jesus’ words found in John 7:24. Right now, it pays to be cautioned of authorities’ caution; in other words, be both forewarned and informed.
DC Alviar
Professor DC Alviar serves as a member of the steering committee of the Philippine International Studies Organization (PHISO). He was part of National University’s community extension project that imparted the five disciplines of a learning organization (Senge, 1990) to communities in a local government unit. He writes and edits local reports for Mega Scene. He graduated with a master’s degree in development communication from the University of the Philippines Open University in Los Baños. He recently defended a dissertation proposal for his doctorate degree in communication at the same graduate school under a Philippine government scholarship grant. He was editor-in-chief of his high school paper Ang Ugat and the Adamson News.
