Quiboloy victims cry sexual molestation, killings in Senate probe

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Detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy faced the Senate probe for the first time on Wednesday, exactly nine months after it launched its legislative investigation into his alleged human trafficking and sexual abuse offenses.

Metro Manila, Philippines — Detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy may have sexually exploited up to 200 women, according to a police estimate revealed in a Senate hearing on Wednesday.

Of this number, authorities have identified 68 women of varying ages as victims of Quiboloy's alleged sexual exploitation, said PCol Hansel Marantan, chief of the Davao City Police Office.

In four hearings of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, former members of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) said they were sexually abused by the man they believed as the "Appointed Son of God." The women, including minors, were supposedly groomed into what Quiboloy called "pastorals" and were coerced into providing him with sexual services.

“Through his preaching with inner pastorals, Quiboloy aimed to acquire 1,000 women anchored on the biblical story of Solomon, King of Israel, who had 700 wives and 300 concubines,” Marantan said.

PBGen Nicolas Torre III, acting director of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said their investigation has reached parts of Europe where some of the supposed victims live.

Quiboloy claims to have around seven million members and partners worldwide, but police report that only 8,000 are active members.

From pastoral to target

Teresita Valdehueza shared that she was only 17 when she became part of Quiboloy’s group in 1980. The KOJC was established in 1985. In 1988, Valdehueza joined a “pioneering group” dedicated to the ministry. Her nightmare began in 1993 when she received a call from Quiboloy, instructing her to fly from Manila to Cebu before his scheduled Sunday preaching.

She said she was instructed to stay with Quiboloy in his hotel suite.

“Without a word, after turning off the light, he embraced me, undressed me, and violated me with his lustful act that left me in shock and speechless. He then said, ‘This is the fulfillment of God's revelation,’” Valdehueza recalled.

It happened not only once as she was officially included in the “Inner Circle” in January 1994.

“Right there and then, I realized that these women had likely endured similar experiences. Without any words, we shared a mutual understanding. None of us dared speak about what had happened to us,” Valdehueza said.

The following month, she wrote to Quiboloy to express her "emotional distress." In response, Quiboloy granted her a significant promotion, appointing her as national crusade coordinator, national logistics coordinator, and Luzon area administrator. She said she immersed herself in work, which included organizing nationwide Christmas carols to meet a quota of P10 million to P15 million in a month – until Quiboloy allegedly exploited her again.

When she began to show “indifference” to the group, Valdehueza said she was punished for her alleged sins with “prayer and fasting in the guise of spiritual discipline” that involved going without food and water for days.

Eventually, she resigned from the KOJC and decided to leave for good – only to be harassed by a certain Alex Camia, who she said was Quiboloy’s personal bodyguard.

“Three years ago, nagkausap po kami ni Alex Camia. Humingi po siya ng kapatawaran at nagsabi na siya ay nautusan lang po na kailangan akong iligpit. Pinaniwala po siya na ako ay may malaking kasalanan at ako’y napakasamang babae,” Valdehueza recalled.

[Translation: Three years ago, I spoke with Alex Camia. He asked for forgiveness and said that he was just instructed to have me removed. He was made to believe that I had committed a grave sin and that I was a very wicked woman.]

Another witness corroborated Quiboloy’s order to kill his enemies, including former members of the KOJC.

‘Angels of death’

Eduard Masayon said he was part of the “2nd Metro Davao Signal Battalion” – a Philippine Army affiliated reserve unit composed of KOJC members. He said the so-called angels of death came from this group.

“Yung ibig pong sabihin, yung angel of death po kasi, yung mga pumapatay po (Angel of death means those who kill),” Masayon said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, committee chairperson asked, “Yung mga pagpatay nung 2nd metro Davao signal battalion o yung security department, si Quiboloy ba ang nag-order ng pagpatay sa mga dating KOJC members (Regarding the killings by the 2nd metro Davao signal battalion or the security department, did Quiboloy order the killings of former KOJC members)?”

Masayon answered yes.

“Hindi naman namin gagawin yun kung hindi inuutos mula sa taas. Sino ba kami (We wouldn't do that if it weren't ordered from above. Who are we)?” he said.

Other former KOJC members said they were tortured, forced to beg or sell goods with a daily quota, and coerced into sham marriages.

All lies

Quiboloy denied all allegations and challenged his accusers to file cases in court. He also denied the existence of the angels of death calling it “imbento” (trumped up).

The religious leader is facing non-bailable human trafficking charges at the Pasig Regional Trial Court, which had him detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Cam Crame, Quezon City, as well as bailable child abuse charges at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

“Yung mabibigat na alegasyon nila, walang mga katotohanan. Kailangan patotohanan nila sa korte [Their serious allegations were false. They need to prove these in court] where I can defend myself, and malaman ang katotohanan []to know the truth]. Because this committee is not the committee to decide whether I am guilty or not. It should be the court of law,” Quiboloy said after the hearing, which lasted for more than five hours.

He also said the committee was “not fair” and was engaging in “trial by publicity.” It was his first time facing the Senate probe, exactly nine months after it launched its legislative investigation into his alleged human trafficking and sexual abuse offenses.

Hontiveros concluded the investigation by honoring the victims.

“You may have taken control of their bodies, but the human soul is made of much stronger stuff. The courage of our witnesses, our victim survivors, is stronger than the divinity you claim,” she told Quiboloy.