The government will investigate Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo C. Quiboloy should the evidence show that some acts other than those covered by his indictment in the United States have also been committed in the Philippines.
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Tuesday, Nov. 30, said: “If the evidence further shows that some acts other than those covered by the US indictment have been committed here, then that's a cue to conduct a separate domestic investigation.”
“That is why we need to see the evidence in the hands of the US. No point in duplicating efforts if the offense and the victims are exactly the same in both jurisdictions,” Guevarra stressed.
Based on the announcement of the US Department of Justice (US-DOJ), Quiboloy and two co-defendants --Teresita Tolibas Dandan and Felina Salinas -- have been “charged in count one of the superseding indictment, which alleges the sex trafficking conspiracy” and each “charged in at least three of five substantive counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion.”
Guevarra said the US government has not requested the extradition of Quiboloy.
“Under our extradition treaty with the US, the request should be accompanied by evidence that could support an indictment if the offense was committed here,” he explained.
In indicting Quiboloy and his co-defendants, the US-DOJ stated:
“These three defendants allegedly recruited females ranging from approximately 12 to 25 years of age to work as personal assistants, or ‘pastorals,’ for Quiboloy. The indictment states that the victims prepared Quiboloy’s meals, cleaned his residences, gave him massages and were required to have sex with Quiboloy in what the pastorals called ‘night duty.’ The indictment specifically mentions five female victims, three of whom were minors when the alleged sex trafficking began.
“The indictment alleges the sex trafficking scheme started no later than 2002 and continued to at least 2018, during which time Quiboloy and his top administrators caused the victims to engage in commercial sex acts by ordering female victims, including the minor victims, to have sex with defendant Quiboloy on a schedule determined by the church leader and others, including Dandan. The victims who were obedient were rewarded with ‘good food, luxurious hotel rooms, trips to tourist spots, and yearly cash payments that were based on performance’ – which were paid for with money solicited by KOJC workers in the United States...
“As part of the alleged scheme, the three defendants told female victims who expressed hesitation at night duty ‘that they had the devil in them and risked eternal damnation.’ Furthermore, Quiboloy would threaten and physically abuse victims who attempted to leave KOJC or were not available to perform night duty, according to the indictment, which also alleges Quiboloy would physically abuse victims for communicating with other men or engaging in other behavior that upset him because he considered such conduct adultery and a sin.”