Order covers 74 bank accounts, 28 real properties, 1 aircraft
The Court of Appeals issued a freeze order on known assets of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) and its officers led by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
The Aug. 6 notice issued by the CA’s Special 3rd Division also covered assets of Swara Sug Media Corporation which operates the religious group’s media arm, Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
The freeze order covered the following: 10 bank accounts, seven real properties, five motor vehicles, and one aircraft owned by Quiboloy; 47 bank accounts, 16 real properties, and 16 motor vehicles of the KOJC, and 17 bank accounts, five real properties, and 26 motor vehicles of Swara Sug.
The CA said it found reasonable grounds to believe that Quiboloy’s money and properties were “linked to unlawful activities and predicate crimes” not only for qualified human trafficking, sexual and child abuse and sex trafficking of children, but also for fraud, conspiracy, marriage fraud, smuggling, and money laundering, among others.
“In order to avoid the possibility of the funds in the subject bank accounts and/or properties from being withdrawn, removed, transferred, concealed or placed beyond the reach of law enforcers, this Court finds it appropriate and judicious to issue a 20-day freeze order as prayed for by petitioner over said bank accounts, including all other related or materially-linked accounts, and the real and personal properties enumerated in the ex-parte petition,” the CA said in the decision signed by Associate Justice Gabriel Robeniol.
Quiboloy’s legal counsel Israelito Torreon declined to comment on the freeze order.
“No comment as of the moment because we really do not know anything about it prior to the issuance of the order,” Torreon said in an interview with Newsline Philippines.
“The KOJC does not want to speculate on the nature of the order, as it had no prior knowledge or indication of it. Therefore, we are withholding any comments on the matter until we receive an official copy of the order and the petition, including any attached documents that presumably led to the issuance of this order.”
Meanwhile, Davao Region police director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said based on their intelligence monitoring, Quiboloy is still within the 30-hectare property of the KOJC in Davao City.
“The indicators and informants are telling us he is still there and being guarded by his followers,” Torre said.
Torre said this was the information which they have been receiving even before a P10-million bounty was placed on the KOJC leader.
He said the Philippine National Police is carefully considering its moves due to the possibility of violence that may ensue should the police force its way inside the KOJC compound amid the presence of hundreds of Quiboloy’s die-hard supporters.
“The challenge is how to implement this (arrest) in accordance with the rules but at the same time, with least casualty on both sides. We don’t want it (violence) to happen,” he said.
Torre said they are ensuring the compound is tightly guarded to prevent the fugitive pastor’s escape.
Police are also monitoring the KOJC’s air assets.
“We have our air unit. Our air unit is armed. Worse comes to worst, they can try the might of the government if they want to do that,” he said.
For her part, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the freeze order will also hamper Quiboloy’s ability to escape.
“Hopefully also, our local entities can work with their foreign counterparts to stanch the flow of Quiboloy’s money to offshore accounts.” said Hontiveros.
In Demember 2022, the United States Treasury Department imposed sanctions against Quiboloy.
Quiboloy was indicted in November 2021 and placed on FBI’s most wanted list in February 2022 for the following charges: conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and conspiracy for bulk cash smuggling.
The US Treasury Department said Quiboloy allegedly recruited “pastorals” or young women within the KOJC who were allegedly required to have sex with the pastor.
“Quiboloy exploited his role within the KOJC to rape his victims and subject them to other physical abuse, describing these acts as sacrifices required by the Bible and by God for the victims’ salvation. The pastorals, who were mostly minors when initially abused by Quiboloy, were told by him to ‘offer your body as a living sacrifice’,” the US agency said in a statement.
