By Karen Lema
MANILA (Reuters) - Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed "Appointed Son of God" who founded a church in the Philippines called the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), faces a dramatic fall from grace as criminal cases cast a shadow on his once untouchable image.
Revered by his followers as a divine figure capable of supernatural feats, Quiboloy wields influence beyond the pulpit and into the highest levels of politics, with presidential candidates seeking his blessing.
But his image as a spiritual leader, reinforced by sermons widely broadcast through his media network, has drawn scrutiny amid accusations of sex trafficking, including exploiting underage girls, coercion and fraud.
Quiboloy, 74, who has denied any wrongdoing, figures on the "most wanted" list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States, where he was charged with running a sex-trafficking operation that threatened young victims with "eternal damnation" and physical abuse, among other crimes.
He faces similar criminal cases in the Philippines, where he was arrested on Sunday, after a weeks-long search of his church's sprawling 30-hectare (74-acre) compound in the southern city of Davao by more than 2,000 police officers.
Quiboloy made "the ultimate sacrifice" by surrendering to police, in order to spare his followers violence, his lawyer, Israelito Torreon, said on Monday. Reuters could not immediately reach him for comment.
"He said his followers were willing to die for him," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told reporters after the arrest. "He did not want that to happen, so to his credit, he was still displaying a modicum of leadership."
The preacher would not receive special treatment, added Marcos, who had sought Quiboloy's endorsement in the 2022 presidential elections.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte is a long-time friend.
Quiboloy, who claims to have six million followers in about 200 countries, rose to prominence by making bold declarations of divinity, including claims that he stopped a major earthquake from hitting the southern Philippines in 2019.
TEST OF FAITH
On his personal website, Quiboloy claimed to have heard God's voice telling him, "I will use you", while attending a spiritual event in South Korea in 1973.
Twelve years later, he set up KOJC in Davao, along with a mountain park called the 'Garden of Eden Restored' that featured manicured landscapes, and a wide array of plants and colourful flowers.
It is not uncommon for charismatic preachers to be deeply revered in the Philippines, because of the southeast Asian nation's strong religious culture and the devout nature of its 110 million people, who are predominantly Catholic.
That has made figures such as Quiboloy, and other religious groups, influential in the political sphere.
Another group, Iglesia ni Cristo, has nearly 3 million members, who often vote according to their leader's advice, so that it is ardently courted by politicians and can influence government appointments.
After years in a position of power, Quiboloy must now confront the criminal charges. If convicted, he could serve prison time in the Philippines before he could be extradited to the United States.
But defiant supporters portray him as a victim of religious persecution, political harassment, and oppression.
"Despite everything that's been thrown against them, the KOJC has remained standing ... all throughout these months, almost a year of oppression," its lawyer, Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes, told a press conference on Monday.
The legal challenges are a test of faith for some of Quiboloy's followers.
"We are stronger than ever before. As followers of Jesus Christ, we expect challenges like this to test and measure our faith in Him," said one of them, Rue Romulo.
"Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," she added, quoting a verse from the Bible.
(Reporting by Karen Lema; Additional reporting by Mikhail Flores; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
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