Fugitive pastor wanted by FBI caught in Philippines

An influential Filipino pastor wished within the Philippines and the US for youngster intercourse trafficking has been arrested, ending a two-week lengthy standoff between cops and his followers.

Police have been trying to arrest Apollo Quiboloy who claims to be the “Appointed Son of God”, in a raid on his sprawling church compound.

Violent scuffles broke out between hundreds of his followers and anti-riot cops, with one church member dying of a coronary heart assault in the course of the raid.

Mr Quiboloy, whose Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) claims to have seven million followers, has denied all prices in opposition to him.

In 2021, the US Division of Justice (DOJ) charged Mr Quiboloy with intercourse trafficking of kids, fraud and coercion and bulk money smuggling.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) mentioned he trafficked women and girls from the Philippines to the US, the place they have been pressured to solicit cash for a bogus charity.

He additionally required his feminine private assistants, who’re referred to as “pastorals”, to have intercourse with him, the FBI mentioned.

However as all this was taking place, Mr Quiboloy was rising to nationwide prominence underneath then-president Rodrigo Duterte, beforehand serving as religious adviser to the previous chief.

Nevertheless, his fortunes turned when Mr Duterte stepped down in June 2022.

Filipino authorities quickly charged him with youngster abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

For 2 weeks , hundreds of policemen have been engaged in a standoff with Mr Quiboloy’s followers, as they raided his 30-hectare (75-acre) KOJC compound in Davao. They mentioned Mr Quiboloy was hiding in an underground bunker based mostly on the sound of heartbeats detected by surveillance gear.

The advanced is residence to some 40 buildings, together with a cathedral, a faculty and even a hangar.

Mr Quiboloy’s lawyer mentioned the two-week-long manhunt had turned the KOJC compound right into a “police garrison”, with one in every of their cathedrals “desecreated”.

On Sunday, Mr Quiboloy surrendered peacefully after he was given a 24-hour “ultimatum”, mentioned Col Jean Fajardo, the nationwide police spokesperson.

Mr Quiboloy’s lawyer, Israelito Torreon, mentioned his shopper surrendered “as a result of he doesn’t need the lawless violence to proceed to occur”.

The circumstances of his arrest weren’t instantly clear, besides that it occurred within the compound.

The regional police chief, Brig Gen Nicolas Torre, mentioned a “concerted effort of everybody concerned” led to the arrest.

Mr Quiboloy and 4 others who have been arrested with him have been flown to nationwide police headquarters within the capital Manila the place they’re at present detained.

Earlier than his arrest, Mr Quiboloy mentioned that the “satan” was behind his authorized woes.

He has additionally mentioned that he doesn’t need the FBI to “meddle” in his case.

Talking to reporters on Monday, Mr Marcos mentioned the Philippines was not contemplating extraditing Mr Quiboloy for now.

The standoff on the KOJC has taken place as a really public falling out between the Marcos and Duterte political households has unfolded.

The US DOJ sought his arrest a number of months earlier than Mr Duterte handed energy to present President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, nevertheless it was solely throughout Mr Marcos’ time period that authorities began pursuing the pastor.

Whereas Mr Quiboloy was in hiding, Mr Duterte mentioned he knew the place he was however wouldn’t inform the police.

Mr Duterte’s daughter, Vice-President Sara Duterte additionally criticised police pursuing Mr Quiboloy of making use of “questionable” drive.

Mr Quiboloy arrange the KOJC in Davao in 1985, after listening to God whisper to him “I’ll use you” whereas attending an occasion by American pastor Billy Graham in South Korea in 1973, says the organisation.

When he’s not in Davao, he has been seen travelling on his personal jet.

He delivers his sermons from a glass podium that’s set in opposition to large pictures of his lush hilltop property referred to as the “Backyard of Eden Restored”.

These are broadcast on his personal TV, radio and social media community.

Outdoors of his long-standing ties with the Duterte’s, Mr Quiboloy grew his political affect by endorsing candidates to his followers throughout elections, a typical observe for spiritual leaders within the nation the place politics is predicated on patronage as a substitute of ideology.