MANILA — In an unsettling revelation, women identified as Ukrainians and members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) have come forward, detailing alleged instances of sexual abuse during their “night duty” under the leadership of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, former spiritual adviser of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

The victims, referred to as “Nina” and alias “Sofia,” shared their testimonies via video conferencing during a Senate investigation led by Senator Risa Hontiveros, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women and Children.

Quiboloy, although invited to the public hearing, did not attend.

Hontiveros initiated the investigation through Resolution 844 in December 2023, seeking to shed light on the reported abuses within KoJC.

The resolution outlined claims that female members, known as “pastorals,” were allegedly coerced into performing household chores, engaging in sexual acts, and soliciting money from strangers.

Alias Nina recounted her family’s involvement with the congregation in Ukraine since 2012. She revealed Quiboloy’s demand for pastorals to “sacrifice everything, including your body.” Expressing innocence at the time, Nina tearfully recounted an instance when Quiboloy forced himself upon her, threatening eternal consequences if she resisted.

Similarly, Alias Sofia shared her experience, explaining how Quiboloy approached her when no other Ukrainian girls were present, pressuring her to sacrifice everything, including her body.

She described a disturbing incident where Quiboloy allegedly exposed himself to her while she massaged him, leaving her shocked and nervous.

Stephen Wood, an American aiding Quiboloy’s victims, disclosed that he and his wife provided shelter for the Ukrainian women who escaped the KoJC. In 2022, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation placed Quiboloy on its “wanted list” for alleged sex trafficking charges. Quiboloy and two church members faced indictment in November 2021 for “conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion.”

Hontiveros emphasized the need for an investigation to assess the adequacy of updated human trafficking laws in addressing large-scale and systematic acts conducted under the guise of a religious organization.

The gravity of these allegations underscores the importance of safeguarding individuals from abuse within religious institutions.

(By el Amigo/MNM)