MANILA, Philippines (2nd update, 4:00 p.m.) — Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, leader of the sect Kingdom of Jesus Christ the Name Above Every Name, was reportedly detained temporarily in Hawaii after gun parts and stash of undeclared cash were discovered on his private jet.
Hawaii News Now reported Thursday that federal agents found $350,000 in cash and gun parts on the private plane where Quiboloy was boarded, prompting authorities to briefly detain the pastor.
According to the same report, the recovered money, which was not declared as required by federal law, belonged to a US citizen supporter of Quiboloy.
Quiboloy reportedly left Honolulu on board a commercial flight, as the federal government works on “seizing” the private plane, which is still in Hawaii’s capital.
“Court documents say, they found tens of thousands of dollars in cash — all in $100 bills neatly folded and stuffed inside socks in a suitcase,” Hawaii News Now said.
“Also found on the plane, parts to assemble military-style rifles, according to sources,” it added.
President Rodrigo Duterte and Quiboloy have been friends for more than 30 years.
The two met when Duterte was still a city prosecutor and Quiboloy was still establishing his congregation with 15 members in Barrio Agdao in Davao City.