Palace: We can’t complain if raid vs. leaders of Quiboloy’s church is legitimate

Malacañang on Thursday called for respect for the law following the arrest of three administrators of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's Kingdom of Jesus Christ church in the United States for alleged human trafficking.

A report by ABC News said the offices of the church in Los Angeles were raided after a criminal complaint was filed against leaders Guia Cabactulan, Marissa Duenas, and Amanda Estopare.

“If the raid is legitimate then we cannot complain about that,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said at a news conference.

“You must remember that if a crime is committed in any country, then the laws of that country would have to be followed. We have to respect them. The way we ask them to respect ours,” he added.

Quiboloy is a friend and staunch supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Citing information from investigators, the report said that the leaders force church members to solicit money for a children's foundation it was using as a front. The collection, however, actually goes to the church's operations.

Since 2013, the church has allegedly arranged visas for its members who were disguised as musical performers for events in the US but they would later on be forced to become "volunteers" soliciting donations with certain quotas.

The FBI said that these "volunteers'" passports were supposedly being withheld and they have been kept in the country through sketchy marriages and enrollments in schools. — MDM, GMA News