In a statement, Marbil revealed that the PNP had discovered “new and concerning details about Apollo Quiboloy’s alleged criminal activities… offering critical insights into the systematic abuse of young women under Quiboloy’s control.”
On September 8, Quiboloy and four of his five co-defendants from KJC turned themselves in to authorities, emerging from a building within the compound after being given a 24-hour deadline.
Young ‘pastorals’
The extensive manhunt, which engaged up to 2,000 police officers, included digging a tunnel on the large property. This operation faced challenges from protests and legal actions brought by KJC lawyers and supporters.
All the accused are currently held at Camp Crame, the PNP headquarters in Quezon City. However, one of the two local courts handling the cases has ordered their transfer to the city jail.
Marbil reported that young women, referred to as “pastorals” or personal assistants within the KJC sect, have come forward with additional accusations against the preacher who dubbed himself “The Appointed Son of God.”
“These so-called ‘inner circle pastorals’ were especially vulnerable, with some victims as young as 12 years old. Their testimonies have been pivotal in revealing the full scope of Quiboloy’s alleged offenses,” Marbil stated.
Marbil noted that these brave victims have come forward to share their distressing experiences, revealing a disturbing pattern of manipulation and exploitation. The PNP is now compiling these new testimonies to strengthen the cases against Quiboloy and is encouraging other victims who may be suffering in silence to come forward.
According to the filings, the cases against Quiboloy and his associates currently involve a single complainant who reported suffering sexual abuse, emotional and physical mistreatment, and forced labor, all masked as religious service. The alleged abuse, which includes rape in 2014, began in 2011 when she was still a minor.
“This is just the beginning,” Marbil said. “The PNP is diligently reviewing the evidence to ensure we build a strong case against Quiboloy.”
Senate Actions
Senator Risa Hontiveros, from the opposition, announced that the Senate will soon request the courts to compel Quiboloy to appear before the committee investigating the alleged abuses.
“We will arrange the next hearing date as soon as possible, and once set, I will notify the appropriate court to enforce his appearance according to the Senate’s standing warrant,” Hontiveros said in a video message.
In addition to the arrest warrants issued by the courts, Quiboloy faces another warrant from the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality for disregarding its subpoena. Hontiveros, who chairs the committee, emphasized that there are still many questions about Quiboloy’s recruitment practices and the mistreatment of female members, minors, and others who were forced to support his extravagant lifestyle.
Potential Parallel Trials
At the House of Representatives, Manila Rep. Joel Chua suggested that Quiboloy could be arraigned in Philippine courts before facing extradition to the United States, where he faces separate charges. Chua pointed out that the US charges—for sex trafficking, fraud, and money laundering—were filed prior to the Philippine cases.
“By arraigning Quiboloy in the Philippines first, our judiciary takes jurisdiction over him,” Chua said. “He can participate in Philippine court proceedings remotely via video conferencing from the US, ensuring that both the Philippine and US cases proceed concurrently.”
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