Duterte takes over Quiboloy assets

KOJC tightens belt as assets remain frozen

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte has taken over as administrator of all assets of his supporter, pastor Apollo Quiboloy, even as the Kingdom of Jesus Christ has to tighten its belt as the Court of Appeals has extended the freeze order on the bank accounts, real estate and other assets registered under Quiboloy’s name and the KOJC.

“Yes, the former president (Duterte) is now the administrator of those assets, but the KOJC has to do some belt-tightening measures because of the freeze order,” KOJC legal counsel Israelito Torreon told The STAR.

According to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the freeze order has been extended to Feb. 6, 2025 based on the Aug. 20 ruling of the appellate court.

On Aug. 7, the Court of Appeals initially imposed a 20-day freeze order after finding merit in the sexual exploitation, human trafficking and financial smuggling cases filed against Quiboloy and four others.

The extension of the freeze order would mean there will be no funding for the operations of the KOJC, its church, its Jose Maria College and law school, the continued construction of the 75,000-seater Kingdome and other commercial establishments run by the congregation.

The freeze order covered Quiboloy’s 10 bank accounts with Banco de Oro and Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., as well as seven real estate properties in Davao del Norte, Davao City, Davao Oriental, Mati and Roxas City.

It also extended to the assets of KOJC, Sonshine Media Network International and 10 other individuals allegedly involved in the preacher’s illegal activities.
Torreon said KOJC has to comply with the freeze order of the appellate court. Duterte, on the other hand, has yet to issue a statement regarding the matter.

Quiboloy and his co-accused – Ingrid Canada, Cresente Canada, Jacklyn Roy and Sylvia Cemanes – were transported to Manila on Sunday night after week-long negotiations were held between members of the KOJC board and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) for their surrender.

Quiboloy’s legal team filed a petition yesterday morning before the Pasig and Quezon City regional trial courts, asking that Quiboloy and his four co-accused be transferred to the ISAFP detention cell in Camp Aguinaldo from the PNP custodial center in Camp Crame, where they were immediately brought Sunday night on board a C-130 flight from Davao City.

Torreon likewise said Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib also helped in seeing the negotiations through that led to the surrender of Quiboloy and his co-accused,

Liquor, medals promised to police

PNP Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, on the other hand, thanked the more than 3,000 police who joined in the raid on the KOJC compound that put pressure on Quiboloy and his co-accused to surrender after 16 days.

The police, one by one, left the KOJC compound Sunday night as Quiboloy was transported to Manila.

Torre offered beer to cheering police officers – some of whom are from units from different regions as far as Luzon – and assured them that each one will receive medals for valiantly putting up with the ridicule and humiliation they were subjected to while making their way into the KOJC compound.

“Come closer and let’s start drinking. Let’s start by giving thanks,” Torre said.

He likewise thanked members of the KOJC for their cooperation during the operation and said that should the P10-million bounty promised for the capture of Quiboloy be given to the police, they would divide the amount equally.

However, the law prohibits police, military personnel, as well as any government employee from receiving reward money from the state.