By Komfie Manalo
He may own the universe and be the anointed 'son of God,' but controversial evangelist Apollo Quiboloy is not above the law.
The self-proclaimed "owner of the universe, and "appointed son of God" who is facing charges of sex trafficking and sexual abuse was arrested by authorities on Sunday after weeks in hiding.
"Apollo Quiboloy has been caught," Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr said on his Facebook page, without specifying how or where he had been.
The pastor is wanted on charges of child and sexual abuse and related allegations of human trafficking. He is listed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) "most wanted" list after he was accused of sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling in the U.S.
Quiboloy has denied all the accusations against him.
To recall, over 2,000 policemen searched for Quiboloy for two weeks at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound to serve the arrest warrant issued by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court.
In June 2024, warrants were first served for Quiboloy at various KOJC properties, but the pastor was not found.
In July 2024, a reward of ₱10 million was set aside for anyone who can point out the whereabouts of the hiding religious leader.
In August 2024, the Court of Appeals issued a freeze order for its bank accounts, including some properties, vehicles, and aircraft.
This first week of September 2024, Atty. Israelito Torreon said that Quiboloy left the KOJC compound as early as March 2024, but the Philippine National Police did not stop the search for the pastor.
They even went as far as excavating different parts of the 30-hectare yard of said association.
Millions of people follow Quiboloy in the Philippines, where church leaders hold heavy sway in politics. He is a longtime friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
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