Senator wants immigration lookout bulletin for Quiboloy

DAVAO CITY – Senator Risa Hontiveros has asked the Department of Justice to issue an immigration lookout bulletin to prevent controversial religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, who is accused by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of sex trafficking, among other charges.

Quiboloy is the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ who claimed to be the Appointed Son of God and owner of the Universe.

“I urge the Department of Justice - Philippines to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order, which they can do motu proprio, to prevent Quiboloy from leaving the country. He must not escape accountability. Our children’s lives are at stake,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros also filed Senate Resolution 884 seeking to investigate the alleged “large-scale human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence, and child abuse of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) under its leader Apollo Quiboloy.”

Quiboloy denied the charges and accusations against him and likened himself to Moses.

Last year, the FBI released Quiboloy’s wanted poster. In its official website, the FBI said that Quiboloy is wanted for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.  

“Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, the founder of a Philippines-based church, is wanted for his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders. Members who proved successful at soliciting for the church allegedly were forced to enter into sham marriages or obtain fraudulent student visas to continue soliciting in the United States year-round,” the FBI said. 

“Furthermore, it is alleged that females were recruited to work as personal assistants, or “pastorals, for Quiboloy and that victims prepared his meals, cleaned his residences, gave him massages and were required to have sex with Quiboloy in what the pastorals called night duty,” it added. 

The FBI further said that Quiboloy was indicted by a federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Santa Ana, California, for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling, and on November 10, 2021, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest. 

It also posted this on its website: “Submit a Tip: If you have any information concerning this person, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.” 

Sanctions 

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also imposed sanctions against Quiboloy, who is also included in its most wanted list, over what it called “serious human rights violations.”

“The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) - in recognition of International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day - is sanctioning a diverse array of over 40 individuals and entities that are connected to corruption or human rights abuse across nine countries.

The Treasury said it utilized various tools and authorities — including Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act — to demonstrate the U.S. government’s focus on promoting respect for human rights and countering corruption.

“Corrupt actors and human rights abusers both rely on deficiencies in the international financial system to perpetrate their activities,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.

“Over the past year, the Treasury has made combating corruption and serious human rights abuse a top priority, including through the use of financial sanctions and addressing vulnerabilities in the U.S. and international financial systems. By exposing the egregious behavior of these actors, we can help disrupt their activities, dismantle their networks, and starve them of resources,” he added.

Washington said it is committed to taking actions consistent with its values and recognizes that respect for human rights is a prerequisite for global peace, security, and prosperity.

The Treasury said the actions are also a key component of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to implement the first-ever U.S. Strategy for Countering Corruption, released in December 2021.

“As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC,” the Treasury said.

“In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons, individually or in the aggregate Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.”

This was also confirmed by the U.S. Embassy in Manila, saying: “Among other effects, all property and interests in property for Quiboloy in the U.S. are blocked, and U.S. persons and entities are blocked from engaging in transactions with Quiboloy.” (Mindanao Examiner)