Some 2,000 police in the Philippines have begun the sixth day of their search for ‘cult leader’ and self-proclaimed ‘owner of the universe’ Apollo Quiboloy, believed to be hiding deep underground his church’s 75-acre compound in southern Davao city.
The preacher to six million is accused of heinous crimes, indicted in the United States for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and the sex trafficking of children, among a litany of other alleged offences.
A tip off from a ‘whistleblower’ helped police in their raid of a compound they believe has been used to store captive women across a number of floors, and two women they understand to be sex slaves have since been ‘rescued’.
While Quiboloy denies the allegations – and has claimed those pursuing him are agents of the Devil – the FBI has listed him among their Most Wanted, detailing in horrific detail the claimed reality of his ‘labour trafficking scheme’ and sex crimes.
The Bureau cites horrifying allegations women at the compound were coerced into living situations at the compound, made to perform various household chores and even subjected to sexual abuse known as ‘night duty’ among the victims.
Quiboloy, the self-described ‘appointed son of God’ , is on the FBI’s most wanted list
Quiboloy (pictured) has denied the criminal allegations against him and his religious group
From above: the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City, in the Philippines
Apollo Quiboloy is the head of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), a Restorationist Christian church based in the Philippines with a claimed following of six million people.
Quiboloy reportedly founded the church after returning from ‘an exile to Tamayong’, proclaiming that he had been guided by God through dreams in the foothills of Mount Matutum to found his church in the late 1990s.
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Quiboloy has since attracted a huge following of ardent followers across the country, earning him the allegiance of various politicians and state officials.
Rodrigo Duterte, the populist former president, saw the value of Quiboloy’s support when he ran for mayor in 1988, and courted his attention.
Quiboloy maintained a curated public persona, appearing for interviews in the national press and greeting followers on the streets of Davao as recently as 2022.
American interest in Quiboloy brought international attention to the preacher’s alleged wrongdoings, a federal grand jury indicting him for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.
By November 2021, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.
The FBI named Quiboloy among its Most Wanted, detailing some of the alleged crimes he is accused of.
Quiboloy is wanted by the Bureau for his alleged participation in a labour trafficking scheme that ‘brought church members to the United States via fraudulently obtained visas, and forces the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity that were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders’.
Those who managed to solicit such ‘bogus’ donations were then allegedly ‘forced to enter into sham marriages’ or obtain fraudulent visas to continue working in the US year-round.
The FBI also cites allegations that women were recruited to work as personal assistants or ‘pastorals’, preparing meals for Quiboloy, cleaning his homes, giving him massages and having sex with him in what they referred to as ‘night duty’.
Victims allegedly also faced threats of abuse and ‘eternal damnation’ unless they catered to the self-proclaimed ‘son of God’.
Police in the Philippines have had additional help from a woman named ‘Amanda’, a whistleblower and former ‘full time miracle worker’ for KOJC who testified that she was one of many women held after being coerced into a sexual relationship with Quiboloy ‘at a young age’.
The Daily Tribune, a local outlet closely following the case, reported that this was presented to victims as a ‘special privilege’ for a select few.
On August 24, the Philippines National Police (PNP) conducted a raid of a 75-acre compound in Davao City associated with the KOJC in search of Quiboloy.
The compound reportedly covers three levels, with two reserved for the ‘most attractive’ women kept by Quiboloy as ‘offerings’ and a third ostensibly used to confine other women, as reported by the Tribune.
Haunting video showed police sweeping dingy, unlit lower floors, vacated but still with signs of life as laundry lay strewn out across large, open plan rooms filled with what appeared to be rows of low, wooden beds.
Other floors looked more like hotel corridors, some with individual rooms containing neatly made single beds, pot plants and posters for decoration, others more sparsely decorated and featuring multiple bunk beds or double beds and sofas.
The church claims the pastor (centre) is being pursued because ‘the Devil… will try to eliminate a good man… who lays down his life for his fellowmen, who are oppressed by evil, at all costs’
Haunting footage shows a room still full of personal belongings in the underground bunker
Some rooms are filled with bunk beds, while others are designated as single rooms
Supporters of religious leader Apollo Quiboloy stage a protest rally outside the compund
Quiboloy has protested his innocence and his group had said that he was ready to face the charges in a court of law, before his sudden disappearance.
But the sustained raids on his compound give police hope of bringing him to justice.
Entering with radar technology capable of detecting heartbeats through concrete walls, they say they have now found signs of life deep under the surface, where Quiboloy is believed to be hiding out with dozens of fanatics.
Quiboloy and his lawyer claim the attempt to arrest him is part of a campaign of misinformation led by critics and former members of his church, who were ousted from the group after committing irregularities.
In his defence, many KOJC followers have turned out in recent days to protest the raid of the compound, clashing with police and pronouncing his innocence.
At least one person has died as a result of a heart attack during the demonstrations. Police say this had nothing to do with their operations.
At least 18 have been detained.