Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder and pastor Apollo Carreon Quiboloy and two other church members are now wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The FBI issued "Wanted" posters for Quiboloy, Teresita Tolibas Dandan, and Helen Panilag on Friday.
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.
In November, Quiboloy and other church officials, including two US-based church administrators, were indicted in the US for allegedly running a sex-trafficking operation that threatened victims as young as 12 with "eternal damnation" and physical abuse.
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.
'Suspicious'
In a statement, Ferdinand Topacio, Quiboloy's legal counsel, said their camp was still determining when the FBI issued the "Wanted" poster against the pastor.
"The timing was suspicious. If it is true, and we are verifying right now, that there was a warrant issued on November 10, 2021, why was the 'Wanted' posted just recently? As per our lawyers and other legal sources in California, it was not yet issued three days ago. They were not aware of anything and they are the ones who are there guarding the gates for any possible legal actions that may subsequently be taken against the pastor after the indictment," Topacio said.
"We are aware of the indictment, it was made in November. It was a sealed indictment," he added.
Topacio argued the Wanted poster was irrelevant, as Quiboloy did not have an opportunity to answer the allegations of the federal grand jury that indicted him and that the indictment was only a "recommendation."
"It does not mean anything insofar as his guilt is concerned. This is only a probable cause as found by several laymen who have no access, who have been deprived of the opportunity to hear the other side," the lawyer said.
Topacio added that Quiboloy will undergo due process should the US government file an extradition request with the Philippine government.
Quiboloy warned the public last November to stop "persecuting, prosecuting, and maligning" him, or suffer more from the pandemic.
In an address to his followers livestreamed on his YouTube channel, Quiboloy said the Omicron COVID-19 variant is the result of how he is being treated.
Two others wanted
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."
The members brought to the US were allegedly "forced to solicit donations for a bogus charity" but said funds were actually used for church operations and to finance church leaders' lavish lifestyles.
"Dandan allegedly played a central role in recruiting female victims, including minor victims, to work as personal assistants, or 'pastorals'" for Quiboloy.
She also allegedly determined with Quiboloy and others the "night duty" schedule of the "pastorals," the FBI said.
The FBI also identified Dandan as the alleged international administrator of KJC.
Meanwhile, Panilag is wanted by the FBI for alleged conspiracy in the said suspected labor trafficking scheme.
At one time, Panilag allegedly was the top church administrator in the US, the FBI said.
She allegedly "oversaw the collection of financial data from church operations around the globe," it added.
Arrest warrants were issued by the US court against Dandan and Panilag in November 2021, the FBI said.
The FBI also said anyone who has information about Quiboloy, Dandan and Panilag may contact the FBI or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.
In November, the KJC legal counsel said the indictment was "a vicious attempt" to bring down their leader.
“Once again, another vicious attempt to bring down Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and some of the Kingdom leaders has been organized just recently in the United States, but The KJC, The Name Above Every Name and all its followers remain steadfast and committed to faithfully respond to its mission, its ministry and its divine calling despite all the detraction efforts made against them,” a the KJC Legal Counsel said in a statement.
Quiboloy is a friend and spiritual adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte.
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