Police conduct a large-scale raid on a religious compound to apprehend Filipino preacher accused of child abuse

In the southern Philippine city of Davao, where the Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious group is headquartered, a massive police raid took place in search of the group’s leader, Apollo Quiboloy, who is accused of sexual abuse and human trafficking. The police operation involved hundreds of officers and riot squads, equipped with devices to detect individuals behind walls in the sprawling 30-hectare compound. Despite their extensive search, Quiboloy was not found on the premises.

During the raid, which was live-streamed by the group’s TV network, a supporter of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ reportedly passed away from a heart attack, though it was stated to be unrelated to the police activities. Quiboloy and his legal representative have refuted the allegations, labeling them as false claims fabricated by detractors and ex-members of the religious organization who were dismissed for misconduct.

Despite the chants of innocence from Quiboloy’s followers present at the compound, the police continued their search, aiming to execute arrest warrants against Quiboloy for offenses such as child abuse and human trafficking. Police Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, leading the operation, justified the large-scale deployment due to the numerous structures within the compound to be examined.

Quiboloy, who asserts himself as the appointed son of God, was indicted by United States federal prosecutors in 2021 for various charges including sex trafficking, coercion, money laundering, and visa fraud. Following the charges, Quiboloy went into hiding after evading arrest orders issued by both Philippine and U.S. authorities.

Amidst these legal affairs, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Quiboloy to turn himself in, offering assurance of fair treatment by the authorities. Quiboloy’s association with former President Rodrigo Duterte, whom he supported as a close adviser, has drawn attention due to Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaigns, which resulted in numerous deaths of suspected drug offenders. The International Criminal Court has initiated investigations into the extrajudicial killings that occurred during Duterte’s term as a potential crime against humanity.