MANILA, Philippines—In a court appearance Friday, a Philippine televangelist who calls himself the "anointed son of God" and once claimed to have stopped an earthquake pleaded not guilty to allegations of child abuse and human trafficking, the latest in a string of setbacks for him.
Apollo Carreon Quiboloy and four of his co-accused were brought under heavy security to the regional trial court in Pasig city, metropolitan Manila, for human trafficking charges. He was later arraigned by video from police detention by another court handling a separate non-bailable case of child abuse.
Lawyer Israelito Torreon informed reporters that his client, Quiboloy, submitted not guilty pleas in both courts because he is innocent of the allegations. Quiboloy, 74, also requested that he be kept in a hospital for unspecified diseases, but no quick decision was made.
Quiboloy, the preacher and creator of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ cult, is facing identical allegations in the United States, where he is on the FBI's most wanted list.
The United States was anticipated to request Quiboloy and his co-accused's extradition at some time, but President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that they must first face justice in the Philippines. Quiboloy surrendered at his enormous religious compound in the south on Sunday, following an operation involving over 2,000 police personnel.
Quiboloy was formerly one of the most important religious leaders in the Philippines, with a large following. He was also seen as a political kingmaker, having supported the similarly controversial former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Quiboloy and his co-defendants have been accused of recruiting young followers who were enticed to submit to the "divine will" and promised scholarships and foreign travels, but were later forced to solicit money in deceptive ways such as house-to-house Christmas caroling and peddling pastries and biscuits.
According to the charging document, the victims were intimidated and abused for failing to meet collecting quotas and defying commands.
More dangerously, Quiboloy and his top aides were accused of duping Filipino and foreign girls as young as 12 into serving as privileged "pastorals," who were told to massage Quiboloy in his bedroom before being raped by him. Some of the claimed victims testified before a Philippine Senate hearing earlier this year about Quiboloy's alleged crimes, including a lady from Ukraine who testified by video due to her country's ongoing conflict.
Quiboloy, his co-accused, and their attorneys all denied any wrongdoing. They stated they were prepared to face the charges in court. They said that the claims were made up by detractors and former members of his religious group.
After Quiboloy surrendered and was apprehended by police at his 30-hectare (75-acre) religious compound in southern Davao city over the weekend, authorities said at least five additional religious followers might file criminal complaints and testify against him.
Quiboloy has made wild assertions that have raised issues about his character but endeared him to his devoted supporters. In 2019, he claimed that he had prevented a huge earthquake from striking southern Philippines.
In the United States, federal prosecutors brought charges against Quiboloy in 2021 for allegedly having sex with women and juvenile girls who were threatened with violence and "eternal damnation" unless they catered to the self-proclaimed "son of God." Former Quiboloy followers made the claims.
The enlarged indictment contained accusations of conspiracy, child sex trafficking, forced sex trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and visa fraud.
Quiboloy and eight other defendants were charged with hiring women and girls aged 12 to 25 as "pastorals," who cooked his meals, cleaned his properties, massaged him, and accompanied him across the world. According to the indictment, minors as young as 15 were slated for "night duty," when they were sexually molested by Quiboloy.
