Filipino preacher Apollo Quiboloy, accused of sexual abuse and human trafficking in the Philippines and the United States, surrendered to authorities on Sunday. Quiboloy and four associates gave themselves up at their religious complex, Kingdom of Jesus Christ in Davao, after police issued a 24-hour ultimatum, said Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos. They were then transported to Manila on a Philippine air force C-130 plane and placed in a heavily guarded detention center, according to police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo.
Quiboloy went into hiding earlier this year following his arrest warrant citing child abuse and human trafficking charges. The Philippine Senate also ordered his arrest for evading public hearings on the criminal allegations. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had implored Quiboloy to surrender and promised fair treatment by the authorities. The preacher, however, has denied the accusations, claiming they were fabrications by detractors and former members of his religious group.
In 2021, US federal prosecutors indicted Quiboloy for allegedly sexually exploiting women and underage girls, threatening them with "eternal damnation" unless they complied. Quiboloy and two top administrators were among nine individuals charged by a federal grand jury with various offenses, including conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, marriage fraud, money laundering, and visa fraud. Last month, a police raid at Quiboloy's Davao compound did not locate him, despite deploying equipment to detect people in hidden tunnels in the extensive religious premises. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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