Fugitive pastor arrested for intercourse crimes

An influential Filipino pastor wished within the Philippines and the USA for baby intercourse trafficking has been arrested, ending a two-week standoff between police and his followers.

Police have been attempting to arrest Apollo Kiboloy throughout a raid on his sprawling church compound.

Violent clashes broke out between hundreds of his followers and riot police, and one church member died of a coronary heart assault in the course of the raid.

Mr Kiboloy, whose Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) claims to have 7 million followers, has denied all accusations towards him.

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

The FBI stated he trafficked women and girls from the Philippines to the USA, the place they had been compelled to lift cash for a pretend charity.

He additionally requested a feminine private assistant, referred to as a “pastor,” to have intercourse with him, the FBI stated.

However whereas all this was taking place, Mr. Kiboloy was rising to prominence underneath then-President Rodrigo Duterte, having beforehand served as the previous chief’s religious adviser.

Nonetheless, when Mr. Duterte stepped down in June 2022, his fortunes modified.

Philippine authorities quickly charged him with baby abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking and issued a warrant for his arrest.

Hundreds of police have been locked in a standoff with Mr Quiboloy’s followers for 2 weeks, raiding his 30-hectare (75-acre) compound at KOJC in Davao. They stated Mr Quiboloy was hiding in an underground bunker primarily based on a heartbeat detected by surveillance tools.

The complicated has about 40 buildings, together with a cathedral, a faculty and even a hangar.

Mr Quiboloy’s legal professionals stated the two-week manhunt had turned the KOJC compound right into a “police station” and one of many cathedrals had been “destroyed”.

Nationwide police spokesman Colonel Jean Fajardo stated Quiboloy peacefully surrendered on Sunday after being given a 24-hour “ultimatum”.

Quiboloy’s lawyer, Israelto Torreon, stated his consumer surrendered “as a result of he didn’t need lawless violence to proceed.”

The particular circumstances of his arrest are unclear, besides that it occurred in a big courtyard.

Regional police chief Brigadier Common Nicolas Torre stated the arrests had been made attainable by “the mixed efforts of all concerned”.

Quiboloy and 4 others arrested with him had been flown to the nationwide police headquarters within the capital, Manila, the place they’re at the moment being detained.

Earlier than his arrest, Quiboloy stated the “satan” was behind his authorized troubles.

He additionally stated he didn’t need the FBI to “intervene” in his case.

The KOJC standoff comes towards the backdrop of a public feud between the Marcos and Duterte political households.

The U.S. Justice Division had earlier charged him with baby intercourse trafficking, fraud and bulk money smuggling and sought his arrest months earlier than Duterte handed energy to present President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., however it was not till Ma It was throughout Mr. Kos’s time period that the authorities started arresting him.

Whereas Queboloy went into hiding, Duterte stated he knew the place he was however wouldn’t inform police.

Mr Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, additionally criticized using “questionable” drive by police chasing Mr Quiboloy.