by MANILA — Police in the Philippines said Wednesday that more people had come forward alleging sexual abuse by celebrity pastor Apollo Quiboloy, highlighting what they called an alarming pattern of crimes by the wealthy, self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God.”
Quiboloy, who is accused in the Philippines and the United States of a range of charges including human trafficking, money laundering and child abuse, was arrested on Sunday after a weeks-long search of his church’s 30-hectare compound by more than 2,000 security personnel.
For years, Quiboloy cultivated the image of a charismatic spiritual leader with divine powers, earning him millions of followers, a lavish lifestyle and influential friends within the country’s political elite.
“These courageous victims have spoken out and revealed their horrific experiences. The abuse they endured shows an alarming pattern of manipulation and exploitation,” Philippine police chief Gen. Francisco Marbil said in a statement.
Among them were girls as young as 12, part of a group police described as “inner-circle pastorals” who played a crucial role in revealing the full extent of Quiboloy’s alleged crimes, Marbil added.
The statement did not say how many people had come forward.
The pastor denies any wrongdoing and his lawyers, Ferdinand Topacio and Israelito Torreon, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Quiboloy is also on the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most wanted list, where he was accused of running a sex trafficking operation that threatened young victims with “eternal damnation” and physical abuse, among other crimes.
Marbil said police were verifying information from an unknown number of victims to strengthen cases against Quiboloy, the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church in Davao City.
Quiboloy is a longtime friend of Rodrigo Duterte, who was president of the Philippines until two years ago and has appeared regularly on the pastor’s television shows. Duterte has criticized recent police actions to arrest Quiboloy.
Marbil urged victims who were suffering in silence to come forward and assured them of protection.
“This is just the beginning,” he said. “We will leave no stone unturned in this quest for justice.”
The Justice Department this week recognized the extradition treaty with the United States but said Quiboloy must first be tried and serve any sentence in the Philippines before any extradition request is granted.
