Recent political tremors surrounding former president Rodrigo Duterte’s close ally, cult leader Apollo Quiboloy, have sparked a series of revelations, implicating him in a myriad of controversies.
The unfolding drama sheds light on ownership disputes, suspicious appointments, and allegations of criminal activities within the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) religious group.
A political rally supporting Quiboloy inadvertently exposed questions about the true owner of the contentious Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), denying FBI’s most-wanted pastor’s ownership claims.
Simultaneously, Duterte’s recent designation as the administrator of KOJC’s extensive properties, a role previously held by Quiboloy, ignited suspicions among netizens.
In a telenovela-like twist, the “real owner” of KOJC and SMNI seemingly surfaced, with speculations pointing to none other than Duterte himself.
SMNI, KOJC’s media arm, posted Duterte’s acceptance of the administrator role, leading to the indefinite suspension of SMNI by the National Telecommunications Commission.
However, Duterte’s program, “Gikan sa Masa para sa Masa,” and another show, “Laban Kasama ng Bayan,” faced suspension by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board due to alleged profanity, death threats, and unverified data.
“Former president Rodrigo Duterte is appointed as the new administrator for KOJC properties,” announced SMNI.
This development occurred after a California judge unsealed arrest warrants against Quiboloy and his co-accused, revealing charges of sex trafficking, fraud, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling in the US.
Former senator Leila De Lima, a vocal Duterte critic, claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that Quiboloy is “the gun-runner and money launderer for Duterte and the DDS.”
De Lima emphasized the gravity of the accusations against Quiboloy, ranging from rape and abuse of minors to white slavery and religious quackery.
“Arrest Quiboloy and open his and KOJC bank accounts pursuant to the AMLC law before these are emptied and the DDS stash transferred to other dummies. This is not only about Quiboloy. This is about going after the most powerful criminal organization in the country, the DDS,” de Lima said.
While the Department of Justice stated it had not received an extradition request for Quiboloy from the US, the agency recently ordered sexual abuse and trafficking charges against him.
This decision followed the reversal of a 2020 dismissal by the Davao City prosecutor’s office.
Concerns about SMNI’s franchise led to a legislative hearing where Quiboloy’s lawyers clarified his disassociation from the network since late 2018.
The lawyers argued that Quiboloy’s only remaining title, “honorary chairman,” is purely honorific, and he lacks specific details about SMNI.
Despite the mounting controversies, some senators, such as Ronald dela Rosa, expressed disbelief in the sexual allegations against Quiboloy, while others, like Risa Hontiveros, cited him in contempt for evading a Senate investigation.
The Daily Netizen 