US Embassy: FBI release of wanted poster for Quiboloy not related to Eleksyon 2022

The US Embassy on Monday clarified that the release by the FBI of a "Most Wanted" poster for Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy had nothing to do with Eleksyon 2022.

"The FBI's release of a wanted poster for Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy follows a multi-year effort by law enforcement. It is unrelated to the Philippines' ongoing presidential election campaign," the embassy said in a statement.

The FBI recently released "wanted" posters for Quiboloy and two other KJC members, Teresita Tolibas Dandan and Helen Panilag.

Quiboloy 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," the FBI said.

"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," it added.

"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,'" the FBI added.

The FBI said "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."

The US court issued a warrant for his arrest on November 10, 2021, the FBI said.

Dandan is wanted by the FBI for alleged "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 promotional money laundering."

She allegedly was part of a labor trafficking scheme wherein members of KJC were brought to the US "via fraudulently obtained visas."

Meanwhile, Panilag is wanted by the FBI for alleged conspiracy in the said suspected labor trafficking scheme.

The FBI said anyone who has information about Quiboloy, Dandan and Panilag may contact the FBI or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.

Quiboloy camp's reaction

On Sunday, Quiboloy's legal counsel Attorney Ferdinand Topacio said the pastor's accusers are only using his closeness with President Rodrigo Duterte to indirectly destroy the latter.

He also said the timing when the FBI released the "most wanted" poster was “very suspect” as the federal grand jury indictment was made on November 10, 2021.

“I’m not fomenting any conspiracy theories here but we all have to be in a state of abject denial to say that the United States has not been interfering with our elections since as far as we can remember,” Topacio said. The campaign period for the Philippine national elections began February 8.

He then asked why, in the period before Duterte became president, there were no such accusations against Quiboloy.

Topacio said that what the US has been doing against Quiboloy may be a “distraction and an issue” against the current administration as the US has “repeatedly and consistently interfered and intervened” in Philippine politics.

Meanwhile Quiboloy himself over the weekend said the sex trafficking allegations against him come with being the "Appointed Son of God," as he describes himself.

Extradition

The US Embassy said questions about extradition efforts may be directed to the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ).

"And for any questions about extradition, I refer you to the DOJ," the embassy said.

The DOJ on the other hand said it "has not yet received any communication from the US government for Quiboloy's extradition."

Malacañang on Tuesday skirted the question on whether Duterte knows the whereabouts of his friend and spiritual adviser Quiboloy.

"It goes through diplomatic channels. Any communication should go through diplomatic channels and the Justice department has spoken about the issue," acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles responded in a Palace briefing.

Quiboloy earlier endorsed the tandem of former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. and presidential daughter Davao Mayor Sara Duterte for Eleksyon 2022. —KG, GMA News