MANILA, Philippines (Update 5: March 18, 2024; 2:09 p.m.) — For the past weeks, doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy has dominated headlines amid his involvement in various issues.
Quiboloy, who claims the title the "Appointed Son of God" with purported millions of followers in the Philippines, is currently facing legal challenges implicating his church and himself.
He is known as a close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who backed the 2016 candidacy of the former top leader.
Facing many legal problems, the "Appointed Son of God" is dealing with them from his prayer mountain, as the challenges keep growing.
"How does he plan to resolve his cases?" Quiboloy's legal counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, responded by citing Bible verses and saying, "With a lot of prayers."
“This is what is happening to Pastor Quiboloy at the hands of this government,” Topacio shared in an online message with Philstar.com, drawing parallels between the challenges faced by Quiboloy and the persecution of the apostles of Jesus Christ.
Here's a summary of the ongoing legal cases against Quiboloy, which will be updated as the cases proceed.
US court
The offenses:
- Conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking
- Sex trafficking of children
- Sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion
- Conspiracy
- Bulk cash smuggling
How it started: Legal hurdles extend beyond the “Appointed Son of God” in the Philippines. He also confronts charges in another country, where he claims that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. colluded to plot his alleged assassination.
On Nov. 10, 2021, a federal warrant for Quiboloy's arrest was issued. The charges stemmed from an alleged scheme that exploited members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), the church founded by Quiboloy, by bringing them to the US through fraudulently obtained visas.
The indictment outlined accusations of forced solicitation for a fictitious charity, diverting funds to support the church's operations and leaders' lavish lifestyles. It also detailed disturbing aspects, including coerced sham marriages and fraudulent visas for continued solicitation.
Female recruits, called "pastorals," were allegedly subjected to exploitative conditions, serving Quiboloy in various capacities, with coercive "night duty" involving sexual activities.
In February 2022, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation placed the doomsday preacher on the most wanted list for “his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme.”
What's new: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the Philippine government has not received an extradition request from the US for Quiboloy.
Remulla explained that such requests must navigate various channels within the US government, and the process involves going through the Department of Foreign Affairs before reaching the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Senate of the Philippines
The offenses:
- Human trafficking
- Labor violations
- Sex-related offenses
How it started: Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, initiated a Senate investigation by filing Resolution 884 on Dec. 11, 2023. This is to examine reported "large-scale human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, violence, and child abuse" within the KOJC.
Hontiveros highlighted the need of a local investigation, citing Quiboloy's 2021 indictment in the US. The reported abuses fall within the Philippines' territorial jurisdiction.
Several hearings were conducted to probe alleged abuses within Quiboloy's church. During the first session, five former KOJC members provided testimony, detailing instances of sexual abuse, coercion, exploitation, and physical punishments within the organization.
In the subsequent hearing, a witness disclosed alleged instances of Quiboloy providing firearms to then President Duterte and Mayor Sara Duterte. More claims surfaced, including fake scholarships, forced almsgiving, and Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) employees not receiving their compensation.
Quiboloy refused to appear in any Senate inquiry, opting to address allegations through legal proceedings.
This prompted Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, to cite the preacher in contempt. The senator also called for Quiboloy's arrest.
Sen. Robin Padilla objected to the motion for contempt, causing a delay in the issuance of an arrest warrant, as Padilla's motion must be addressed first, according to Quiboloy's lawyer, Melanio Balayan.
Following Padilla's objection on Quiboloy's arrest, he said that five senators have signed a written manifestation, objecting a Senate arrest on the doomsday preacher. Among the senators who initially signed to block Quiboloy's arrest besides Padilla are: Cynthia Villar, Imee Marcos, Bong Go and JV Ejercito.
To block an issuance of an arrest warrant against Quiboloy, Padilla needs at least eight senators for support, as Rules of Procedures for Governing Inquiry in Aid of Legislation stipulate that majority of the committee members may reverse or modify an order of contempt within seven days.
Ejercito later on withdrew his signature upon learning that the DOJ had decided to pursue charges against Quiboloy. In a letter explaining his decision, Ejercito said that the preacher should face the charges to prove his innocence and uphold the principles of due process.
On March 11, Padilla filed a Senate resolution seeking to investigate the imposition of the indefinite suspension order of the NTC on SMNI. Padilla called the suspension order "baseless" and a "denial of due process" which is an "erosion of press freedom."
On March 13, another show-cause order has been handed down by the Senate panel after snubbing previous summons. The committee issued three invitations to the doomsday preacher dated January 23, February 19 and March 5.
Meanwhile, the deadline to block Quiboloy's contempt order has lapsed on March 12.
Sen. Robin Padilla said that he only secured five signatures to the written objection to thwart the contempt order. The last senator who signed is Mark Villar, the son of Cynthia Villar who said Quiboloy is a friend to their family on March 7.
On March 15, Quiboloy's camp sent a letter to the Senate panel saying that an appearance to the Senate probe violates the preacher's constitutional rights. Hontiveros rejected the "justifications" sent by Quiboloy's camp and asked the Senate to issue a warrant of arrest against him.
What's new: On March 19, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri signed the warrant of arrest against the preacher.
House of Representatives
The offense: Franchise violations of Sonshine Media Network International
How it started: On Dec.11 2023, 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez filed House Bill (HB) No. 9710 aimed to revoke the legislative franchise granted to SMNI.
The bill highlighted multiple infractions by SMNI within its franchise, particularly the dissemination of prohibited false information as outlined in Section 4 of the franchise law.
Quiboloy, being the owner of SMNI, was sent multiple invitations for the House committee probe which he failed to attend. The said committee hearings were conducted on Dec. 5 to 11, 2023, and Feb. 7, 2024.
The House committee on legislative franchises, headed by Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, issued a subpoena on Feb. 19, 2024, ordering Quiboloy to personally appear before an inquiry on SMNI's alleged violations.
On February 7, the Tambunting panel voted to issue a subpoena to Quiboloy concerning the persistent defiance of SMNI despite a temporary shutdown order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
Rep. Johnny Pimentel (second district of Surigao del Sur), the vice chairman of the House committee on legislative franchises warned that Quiboloy's failure to comply with the House of Representatives' March 12 subpoena may jeopardize the continued operation of SMNI.
Pimentel said if Quiboloy fails to attend the next hearing on March 12, they will have no choice but to cite him in contempt, leading to an order for his immediate arrest.
On March 8, Topacio, the preacher's general legal counsel, sent a letter to the Tambunting panel, saying that Quiboloy is not involved in the management and operations of SMNI when the network's franchise was renewed on Aug. 22, 2019.
Marlon Acobo replaced Quiboloy as the executive pastor of KOJC, according to Topacio's letter. This development, according to Topacio, has made Quiboloy the "Honorary Chairman" of the network.
He also said that this information has been made known to the Securities and Exchange Commission in a filing dated Dec. 19 2022 and was reflected in the network's articles of incorporation on Jan. 4, 2023.
What's new: On March 12, the House committee on legislative franchises cited Quiboloy in contempt as he failed to appear before the panel for the hearing on the proposal to revoke the franchise of SMNI.
The panel also approved House Bill 9710 which seeks to revoke the franchise of Swara Sug Media Corp. which operates SMNI.
National Telecommunications Commission
The offense: Franchise violations of Swara Sug Media Corp.
How it started: The House of Representatives, through House Resolution No. 189, urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to suspend the business of Swara Sug Media Corp., which operates SMNI, for allegedly violating the terms and conditions of its franchise under Republic Act 11422.
The NTC handed down the suspension order in December 2023 but was ignored by the network. This prompted the commission to slap an indefinite suspension of the operation of the radio and television stations of SMNI due to its non-compliance
Rather than submitting a response, SMNI requested the commission to clarify and elaborate on the violations it purportedly committed regarding its Certificate of Public Convenience.
The NTC denied this request, stating that the show cause order had already clearly and explicitly outlined the alleged acts committed by the media network.
SMNI's lawyers appealed the NTC suspension to the Supreme Court, while its hosts, along with former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, also appealed the suspension before the high court.
What to expect: Despite the suspension of its broadcast mediums, SMNI lawyers said that the network will continue to operate on social media as it is not covered by the suspension.
In July 2023, however, social media accounts related to Quiboloy were taken down by Google and Facebook.
SMNI's videos are currently being uploaded to the online video platform Rumble, as their X account (formerly Twitter) remains active.
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
The offense: Violation of MTRCB Law and its implementing rules and regulations for the utterance of cuss words
How it started: The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) suspended two of SMNI's shows which aired unverified information and death threats.
One show was hosted by Lorraine Badoy, former spokesperson of the government anti-insurgency task force, and Jeffrey Celiz who claimed that Speaker Martin Romualdez spent P1.8 billion on foreign travel between January and October 2023.
Another show, “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa”, which is hosted both by Rodrigo Duterte and Quiboloy, was suspended after the former president made death threats against Rep. France Castro (ACT-Teachers), who scrutinized the confidential and intelligence funds of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
This decision has been appealed by SMNI’s lawyers before the MTRCB but was dismissed on Jan. 25, 2024.
What's new: In a message with Philstar.com, one of SMNI’s lawyers, Rolex Suplico, said that their camp will appeal the MTRCB decision before the Office of the President through a petition for review.
Department of Justice
The offenses:
- Sexual abuse of a minor
- Qualified human trafficking
How it started: In June 2020, the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the charges of rape, child abuse under RA 7610, physical abuse, trafficking in persons through forced labor, and trafficking in persons through sexual abuse against Quiboloy and five others.
The complainant was a former member of the KOJC who accused Quiboloy of raping her in 2014. A petition for review of the complaint was submiited to the DOJ.
What's new: On March 4, the Justice department said that it had reversed the dismissal of Quiboloy’s 2020 case by the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office.
It has ordered the filing of case for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law, which mentions a provision of sexual abuse of a minor.
Another case of qualified human trafficking, which is non-bailable, is to be filed before a Pasig City court according to Remulla.
The justice chief also said that its department has signed a preliminary hold departure order against the preacher, as well as a lookout bulletin order to prevent Quiboloy from fleeing the country.
Balayan, Quiboloy's lawyer, stated that while they might not agree with the future findings, they believe that the DOJ's actions are "correct".
“We might not agree with the findings but that is the proper procedure,” he said in an interview with Radyo630.
“‘Yan po ang tamang proseso, kasi kapag nadala na po sa judiciary…'yung mga dokumento po ay mahihimay-himay, 'yung mga bawat details po ng kanilang (witnesses) sinumpaang salaysay, ay under scrutiny po ng magkabilang panig,” he added.
(That is the correct process, because once it is brought to the judiciary... the documents will be scrutinized, and every detail of their [witnesses] sworn statement will be under scrutiny by both sides.)
According to Section 6 of Article 110 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, a judge may issue a warrant of arrest to an individual once it finds probable cause on the accused.