How did a popular Filipino televangelist end up on the FBI’s most wanted list?

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — In its heyday, Apollo Carréon Quiboloy was one of the most influential religious leaders and televangelists in the Philippines. He proclaimed himself the “appointed son of God” and was also a political kingmaker who supported former President Rodrigo Duterte.

A expanded US indictment in 2021 accused him of having sex with women and underage girls and sex trafficking with violence, among other crimes. He faces similar criminal charges in the Philippines, where he went into hiding this year.

Surrounded by heavily armed police, the 74-year-old pastor and four co-defendants surrendered Sunday in his religious stronghold in the south. They were presented to the press Monday in orange detention shirts and face masks, as top officials warned on national television that “no one is above the law.”

Here’s what we know about Quiboloy:

How did Quiboloy gain so much influence and power?

By most accounts, Quiboloy’s preaching began to gain attention in 1985, when he founded the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, which would later claim 6 million mostly Filipino members in some 200 countries, including the United States. Not much is known about how Quiboloy managed to raise the funds to build his empire, which included what many considered his real kingdom in Davao—a 30-hectare (75-acre) complex that included a cathedral, a massive stadium, and an airplane hangar with a taxiway leading to Davao International Airport. He established a television and radio network and religious charities in the Philippines and abroad that helped build his image as a popular televangelist.

According to the U.S. indictment, Quiboloy also had large homes in California, Las Vegas and Hawaii.

At the height of his influence, candidates flew to Davao to seek his support. In the 2016 presidential election, Quiboloy supported Dutertehis close friend whom he also served as a spiritual advisor. Duterte had sometimes appeared with Quiboloy on the religious leader’s TV and radio programs, where the then-president spoke openly about his deadly approach to illegal drugs.

The murder of thousands of the poorest drug suspects under the Duterte administration have been convicted by Western governments and human rights groups and are being investigated by the International Criminal Court as a possible crime against humanity. Duterte has denied authorizing the killings but has openly threatened drug dealers with death.

Quiboloy has made outrageous claims that have raised questions about his character but endeared him to his fanatical followers. In 2019, he claimed to have prevented a major earthquake from hitting the southern Philippines.

What charges does Quiboloy face?

U.S. federal prosecutors announced charges against Quiboloy in 2021 for allegedly having sex with women and underage girls who faced threats of abuse and “eternal damnation” unless they turned to the self-proclaimed “son of God.” The allegations were made by former followers of Quiboloy.

The wide-ranging indictment contained a range of charges, including conspiracy, child trafficking, sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, marriage fraud, money laundering, cash smuggling and visa fraud.

Quiboloy and eight other defendants were charged with “participating in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, using fraudulently obtained visas, and coerced the members to solicit donations for a sham charity … donations that were in fact used to fund church activities and the extravagant lifestyles of its leaders.”

They were accused of “recruiting women and girls, typically between the ages of 12 and 25, as ‘pastorals,’ who cooked his meals, cleaned his homes, gave him massages and traveled the world with him. Some also had sex with Quiboloy during the scheduled ‘night shift,’ including some minors such as a 15-year-old girl,” the indictment said.

In November 2021, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Quiboloy. He was placed on the FBI’s most wanted list and his face appeared on FBI fugitive posters.

In the Philippines, Quiboloy has been charged in a court with violating a law protecting children from abuse, exploitation and discrimination, and in another court with human trafficking, after several former followers filed complaints.

Quiboloy and his co-defendants and their lawyers have denied wrongdoing and said they were prepared to answer the charges in court. The series of accusations, they said, were fabricated by critics and former members who had been expelled from his religious group.

Earlier this year, Quiboloy went underground after a Philippine court ordered his arrest and that of several others on suspicion of child abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking. The Philippine Senate ordered Quiboloy’s arrest separately after he refused to appear before public committees investigating criminal allegations against him.

How was he caught and what happens next?

On August 24, more than 2,000 police officers, backed by riot police, his religious complex was attacked in Davao in a chaotic operation that saw many of his followers hold noisy protests, complaining of “overkill” and proclaiming his innocence. Duterte and his family criticized the massive raid, which used police equipment to detect people hiding in underground tunnels.

The breakthrough in the search for him came on Sunday, when police gave Quiboloy a 24-hour ultimatum to turn himself in or they would again raid a Bible school building where the pastor was believed to be hiding. Before dark, Quiboloy and four others surrendered and were flown to Manila, where they were held in a maximum-security detention center at the police station.

“He could no longer bear to see the suffering his flock had been enduring for days,” his lawyer, Israelito Torreon, said of Quiboloy’s surrender.

Quiboloy and his co-defendants were briefly introduced to the press on Monday, but the televangelist known for his long sermons did not speak. Interior Minister Benhur Abalos and national police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil warned that the arrest of the influential preacher showed that in the Philippines “no one is above the law.”

The United States was expected to request the extradition of Quiboloy and his co-defendants at some point, but President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said they must first appear in court in the Philippines.

According to Marcos, Quiboloy would be treated like any other prisoner and would not receive any special treatment.