By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri vowed on Friday (16 Feb 2024) that he would sign the subpoena for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy upon his return to the Senate.
This action is part of the ongoing probe against Quiboloy regarding alleged human trafficking and sexual abuse.
“I have been informed by my staff that the subpoena for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy has been prepared and is now ready for my signature. I am currently in the Visayas for several engagements, but I will sign all necessary documents upon my return,” Zubiri stated.
Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed urgency, stating that they could not afford to wait for the subpoena.
“In the meantime, the committee cannot delay awaiting the subpoena. We will proceed with the hearing, especially since we have a second batch of witnesses,” Hontiveros emphasized.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — After popular TV gameshow host Willie Revillame announced his readiness to run for senator in the 2025 midterm elections, now comes another staunch ally of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and he’s no other than controversial televangelist Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy who also reportedly aims to secure a Senate seat next year.
Political pundits told Maharlika NuMedia that if the rumors are true then Quiboloy’s supposed Senate bid is seen as a strategy to gain immunity from US sex trafficking charges and to support former President Duterte’s political ambitions, notably his “Quixotic quest to establish a separate and independent Mindanao.”
Reliable sources said Quiboloy drew inspiration from Senator Joel Villanueva, who won his reelection bid largely because of millions of “command votes” of Jesus Is Lord (JIL) born-again Christian congregation, which his father, CIBAC party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva, established.
The Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) Church, which puts Quiboloy on its pedestal as the “Appointed Son of God,” claims to have at least 4 million members in the Philippines.
Ironically, the Davao-based KOJC accused Senator Risa Hontiveros of violating Quibuloy’s constitutional rights even as he refused to attend her committee’s hearing on the alleged abuses done against his former followers.
In an audio recording posted on the Facebook page Buhay Kingdom 2024 last January 24, Quiboloy called the former workers, who testified about the alleged abuses they suffered at the hands of Duterte’s close friend and spiritual adviser as “bogus witnesses.”
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros raised concerns about the absence of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in the Senate hearing.
“Where is Quiboloy? We are preparing. Is he ready? If he is, he should just appear in the Senate,” stated Hontiveros.
Hontiveros emphasized that Quiboloy, being the point person for the victims, should personally attend the Senate probe.
“We are also considering urging the Department of Justice to issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order or Hold Departure Order. I will send a formal letter to the DOJ regarding these matters,” she added.
“The subpoena has been issued by the Senate committee in the competent exercise of its legal mandate. So, Quiboloy, it’s time to show up.”
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — The Senate is scheduled to investigate the alleged criminal acts of Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC). The hearing is on January 23, 2024.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros has shared a copy of the notice of the hearing regarding Quiboloy.
The chair of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality has also sent a letter to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, seeking assistance to ensure Quiboloy’s physical presence in the Senate.
“In the interest of justice and due process, it is my strong desire to ensure that he will be physically present in the Senate for the hearing,” stated Hontiveros.
Meanwhile, Senator Robin Padilla opposes the Senate’s probe on Quiboloy, arguing that the case falls outside the jurisdiction of the Philippines.
“That’s an American case. Pastor’s case is an American case. What is it? Like the International Criminal Court (ICC)? Are we going to bow down to foreigners again? Is that how it seems?” Padilla remarked.
“For us, especially for me, I feel uneasy when it involves a case with foreigners… [Andres] Bonifacio would be offended. I don’t like it. But if it’s in the Philippines, I can’t do anything. He’s a Filipino. If we base it on the courts of other countries, no way,” added the senator.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Ironic, as it seems, but the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy of Davao got sick which is why he was not able to attend the hearing of the House committee on legislative franchises which is investigating, in aid of legislation, SMNI’s alleged franchise violations.
On Thursday, December 14, House Committee on Legislative Franchises chairman Gustavo “Gus” Tambunting of Parañaque’s Second District said Quiboloy gave two reasons why he turned down an invitation to appear in the last House hearing because he was sick and “because he is not an officer of SMNI.”
Quibuloy is a close friend and spiritual adviser of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
However, Tambunting said that as far as the House body is concerned, Quibuloy is the “ultimate beneficial owner” of SMNI.
“Siya (Quibuloy) po ang tunay na makikinabang doon sa programang ‘yun. Naka-layering ka eh, kumbaga may mga kumpanya pero makikita mo pa rin kung sino talaga ang makikinabang. Siya po talaga,” the Parañaque lawmaker said.
He pointed out that even the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) agrees that Quiboloy is the ultimate beneficiary of SMNI.
“Marami pong kumpanya, meron pang sole corporation papasok, kami may-ari. Pero pag in-analyze mo ay ang ultimate beneficiary — pwede silang maglagay nang ibang pangalan — pero makikita mo kung sino talaga ang tunay na may-ari e tine-trace back ‘yun. Even SEC agrees that the ultimate beneficial owner would be also Pastor Quiboloy,” Tambunting disclosed.
He added: “Kung titignan mo ‘yung mga shell holdings ng mga kumpanya kasi biro mo yung actual corporation tapos meron siyang individual shares, tapos may shares yung iba, pero pag ipinagsuma-suma mo, ang majority pa rin ay si Pastor Quiboloy. ‘Yun ang findings ng committee and that will be clearer in the coming hearings.”
Mark Tolentino, legal counsel and officer of SMNI, earlier told congressmen that Swara Sug Media Corporation of the Philippines, also known as Sonshine Media Network Inc., is not owned by Duterte’s “bff” Quiboloy.
“He’s not part of the corporate officers. He’s just a blocktimer of SMNI. We consider him an honorary chairman but he’s not part of the corporate officers, his name is not part of the corporate papers. He’s not a stockholder of SMNI or Swara Sug Media Corporation,” he said.
Tambunting said all SMNI officers, including Quiboloy, will be invited to the next hearing in January 2024.
“We can subpoena if needed. Maybe during the process of the hearing of the bill then that’s the time we will ask for his presence,” he said.
Tambunting added the committee will also tackle the allegations of sex trafficking and abuse against Quiboloy.
(AI/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Giving a chance to the spiritual adviser of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises will extend another invitation to Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) for its upcoming hearing.
Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo said on Monday (December 11) that Quiboloy could provide information regarding the operation of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), being a former ultimate beneficial owner of the company.
“Bottom line lang naman is that meron namang siyang supisyenteng kaalaman ang gusto lang naman natin is to shed light on the matter, yun lang po,” said Quimbo during the House Committee on Legislative Franchises hearing.
Quiboloy was invited to last Monday’s hearing but only sent a letter to the committee.
“I have not been an officer of Suwara Sug Corp. for the time of the enactment of RA 11422 up to the present hence I respectfully sent my regrets for my absence in the hearing today,” Quiboloy explained in the letter.
It was learned that Suwara Sug Corp. is the legal name of SMNI.
The Marikina City lawmaker maintained that based on the documents, Quiboloy is still the ultimate beneficial owner of SMNI until April 2021.
RA 11422 was enacted into law in 2019.
Quimbo was also the administration ally who exposed that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) spent P125 million confidential funds in just 11 days in 2022.
On the other hand, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel on December 6 said Swara Sug Media Corporation, which operates SMNI, allegedly violated at least three provisions of its franchise under Republic Act 11422.
He also noted that Swara Sug neither sought approval nor informed Congress that televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted in the United States for alleged conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking, fraud, and cash smuggling, had transferred through succession his controlling interest in Swara Sug to a certain Marlon Acobo.
(ai/mnm)
By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Alleged victims of human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, and child abuse linked to Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ recently collaborated with Senator Risa Hontiveros in a press conference to expose and share their experiences.
“Last night, we formally urged the Senate to investigate the cases of human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, and child abuse filed by numerous victims against Apollo Quiboloy, the leader of the religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ,” stated Hontiveros.
“This is not mere gossip. What we hold against Quiboloy are the testimonies of the victims,” she emphasized.
Jackson, a pseudonym used for an alleged victim of Quiboloy, disclosed that they were lured into joining a youth camp and later coerced into soliciting funds.
“I was carried away; we were on a bus, mostly young people, often underage. I was 15 years old. We solicited in Dipolog, Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, the entire Misamis Occidental, and the whole Misamis Oriental,” he recounted.
“We were many at the age of 15, my peers and I.”
He went on to share an incident where he was slapped when he could only remit P300, his lowest contribution to the minister.
“For us in full-time service, you’re there inside [the Kingdom of Jesus Christ] your whole life. The worst part is the beating. In 2000, I can’t forget, more than 50 were beaten in the gym,” added Jackson.
Another victim, Arlene, narrated how she was compelled to sell products and beg for alms.
“I was 15 years old when I first converted to Quiboloy. We were sent to Amoranto to beg. We were sent from Davao to Manila for begging. The first place my sister and I stayed in was the Amoranto Colosseum in Cubao in 1991. We pretended to be mute and deaf, fake students carrying various associations to raise money,” shared Arlene.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Saying that just like Jey Rence Quilario, also known as Señor Aguila and his Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated (SBSI) in Surigao del Norte, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s spiritual adviser Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his group should be held accountable for their alleged abuses in the Davao-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
On Monday, December 11, Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 884, seeking a Senate directive for its Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality to start an official inquiry into the alleged large-scale human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, and violence, and child abuse committed by the KOJC.
Hontiveros chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.
Interestingly, Quilario of SBSI was able to attract followers in Surigao del Norte by claiming to be the reincarnation of the Catholic icon Sto. Niño while Quibuloy managed to fortify his KOJC in Davao by declaring to be the “Appointed Son of God.”
Arlene Caminong Stone, one of the first former KOJC members to come forward and disclose the alleged excesses of Quiboloy’s group, said it has been years since she and other alleged victims cried out for help from the government, but they were ignored.
In late 2021, Stone — who is now based in Minnesota, United States, revealed the alleged practice of Quiboloy to have “spiritual wives” picked from a group of “pastorals,” who serve as aides and take care of the preacher’s needs, including household chores.
Lately, Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), allegedly owned by Quibuloy, came under fire from the House of Representatives after its program anchors, Jeffrey Celiz and Lorraine Badoy, made supposedly false allegations that Speaker Martin Romualdez spent P1.8 billion on travel expenses.
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Saying that Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is facing charges of sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling, among others, in the United States, Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas has called for his extradition to face the complaints.
Quiboloy, who claims to be the “appointed Son of God” and who heads the Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious group based in Davao and a close friend of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, was issued a federal arrest warrant on November 10, 2021, according to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) website.
“The government must immediately extradite Quiboloy. Eh anong ginagawa ng DOJ? Kailangan niya harapin itong mga karumal dumal na kaso na ito,” Brosas said.
She disclosed that Quiboloy “is facing appalling crimes” including conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, tapos sex trafficking of children, at saka bulk cash smuggling.
At the same time, Quiboloy must also be investigated over his alleged ownership of TV station SMNI.
“Hindi pa natin nauungkat kung ano talaga ang role ni Quiboloy diyan sa SMNI when for all you know lahat naman ng tao na familiar sa SMNI eh talagang si Quiboloy ang tinuturo,” Brosas quipped.
SMNI earlier claimed that Quiboloy does not own the company and is merely a blocktimer.
(ai/mnm)