CA freezes Quiboloy, KOJC assets, accounts

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has issued a 20-day freeze order against the bank accounts, properties and other assets of accused child abuser and fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy, his church and media group.

In a 48-page resolution dated Aug. 7, the appellate court granted the petition of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which found 330 substantial financial transactions of Quiboloy from 2006 to 2022 that “appear to be directly sourced from unlawful activities” of Quiboloy, his cohorts and ministry.

“In order to avoid the possibility of the funds in the subject bank accounts and/or properties from being withdrawn, removed, transferred, concealed or placed beyond the reach of law enforcers, this Court finds it appropriate and judicious to issue a 20-day FREEZE ORDER as prayed for by petitioner (AMLC) over said bank accounts, including all other related or materially linked accounts, and the real and personal properties enumerated in the Ex-Parte Petition,” the CA order read.

The freeze order resolution was written by Associate Justice Gabriel Robeniol with the concurrence of Associate Justices Ramon Bato Jr. and Charlene Hernandez-Azura.

Covered by the freeze order are at least 10 personal bank accounts under Quiboloy’s name, seven real properties and five motor vehicles.

The freeze order also included Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ and Swara Sug Media Corp., which owns Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI)’s franchise.

The KOJC has 47 bank accounts, 16 real properties and 16 motor vehicles while Swara Sug has 17 bank accounts, five real properties and 26 motor vehicles.

A total of 99 bank accounts under the names of individuals and entities associated with Quiboloy were also ordered frozen, namely Children’s Joy Foundation Inc., Maria Teresita Dandan, Helen Panilag, Paulene Canada, Cresente Canada, Ingrid Canada, Sylvia Cemañes, Jackielyn Roy, Alona Santander and Marlon Acobo.

The CA gave the banks and concerned government agencies 24 hours from the receipt of the freeze order to submit a return on their compliance, which include relevant information on the frozen bank accounts and assets.

They are likewise tasked to annotate the freeze order on the titles and certificates of registration of the foregoing real properties, motor vehicles and aircraft, and to manifest their compliance within three working days from notice.

The appellate court also set a post-issuance summary hearing on Aug. 12 to determine the need to modify, lift or extend the freeze order.

The appellate court has also pointed out that the monthly income of KOJC’s top administrators does not match their financial profiles.

KOJC officials’ accounts also showed unusual deposits, withdrawals and remittance transactions inconsistent with their profiles.

The AMLC began investigating Quiboloy’s financial activities following the request of the Department of Justice in December last year.

In the US, Quiboloy and his cohorts were indicted on multiple charges, including sex trafficking, conspiracy, fraud and money laundering.

They also face charges of rape, human trafficking and child abuse before Philippine courts, which have so far issued two arrest orders against the preacher and his co-accused.

They all remain at large. A P10-million reward is being offered for information that will lead to Quiboloy’s arrest.

Sara slams freeze order

Quiboloy deserved the CA freeze order against his 10 bank accounts, seven real properties, five motor vehicles and one aircraft, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said yesterday, adding this is “the first step to achieving justice.”

“Deserve. It is just for people like Quiboloy who are greedy to the extreme,” Hontiveros said. This is the second freezing of his bank accounts after the ones in the US.

“Hopefully, this freezes Quiboloy’s ability to escape. Hopefully, also, our local entities can work with their foreign counterparts to stanch the flow of money to offshore accounts,” the senator added.

Hiding inside KOJC compound

Quiboloy should think twice if he is planning to leave the 30-hectare KOJC compound in Davao City using his aircraft as the Philippine National Police (PNP) will not hesitate to use its air assets against him.

“Our helicopters are armed. Worse comes to worst, they can try the might of the government if they want to do that,” Davao police director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III warned.

Torre said that according to their informants, Quiboloy’s followers have been securing the compound’s premises, preventing policemen from entering and serving the arrest warrants against the evangelist.

Quiboloy’s four other co-accused –Cresente Canada, Ingrid Canada, Jackielyn Roy and Sylvia Cemanes – are also inside the compound, he added. Another respondent, Paulene Canada, was arrested in Davao last month.

Quiboloy has four helicopters and two airplanes under his name. His compound has a hanger and a private taxiway toward Davao International Airport.

About two weeks ago, police noticed a helicopter flew out of the compound, which prompted them to alert airport authorities.

“They immediately brought it down and said they were just warming up the helicopter but it flew,” Torre said.

Torre has already requested for additional policemen from the PNP to secure the compound.

Instead of hiding, Torre urged Quiboloy to surrender and face the cases filed against him in court and end the suffering of his supporters who have been guarding his property for several months. –  Cecille Suerte Felipe, Emmanuel Tupas