The Senate Committee on Women, Children and Gender Equality concluded its seven-month investigation of Apollo Quiboloy and his Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) with a face-to-face confrontation of the self-proclaimed “Son of God” and his alleged victims last Oct. 23.
Committee chair Sen. Risa Hontiveros sat behind former KOJC members who accused Quiboloy of a wide range of abuses including sexual molestation of women and children while the pastor, who is former president Rodrigo Duterte’s spiritual adviser, sat remorseless and shameless.
The seven-month probe was initiated to determine whether the country’s updated human trafficking laws are able to cover large-scale and systemic acts of trafficking done under the cover of a religious organization.
Quiboloy is facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208 and other charges under Section 5(b) and Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
He is also wanted in the United States for a string of cases that includes sex trafficking of children and bulk cash smuggling.
Also present in the last hearing was newly appointed chief of the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group PBG Nicolas Torre III, who led the arrest of Quiboloy on Sept. 8 after a 16-day search in his sprawling and fortress-like compound in Davao City.
The KOJC leader is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.
Photos and videos by Bullit Marquez for VERA Files
