Philippine Senate hearing on the Kingdom of Jesus Christ

In 2024, the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality of the Senate of the Philippines started a public investigation on the alleged abuses committed within the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, led by its pastor, Apollo Quiboloy.

The hearing was conducted in aid of legislation to determine the effectiveness of the current laws of the Philippines against human trafficking that involves religion. Quiboloy's camp insists that the Senate cannot determine liability for alleged crimes.

The first hearing was conducted on January 23, 2024.

Background
Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 884 on December 11, 2023 which sought an investigation on "large-scale human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence, and child abuse of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ" led by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. The investigation proposed to be conducted on the alleged abuses in aid of legislation to determine if the Philippines' "updated human trafficking laws are able to cover large-scale and systemic acts of trafficking done under the cover of a religious organization."

In the resolution, Hontiveros noted that Quiboloy was indicted by a California court in the United States for charges of "conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion" in 2021. Hontiveros stressed the importance of an investigation, since the alleged abuses her office received happened in the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines.

Hontiveros on December 14, 2023 requested the Department of Justice led by Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla that an immigration lookout order be placed on Quiboloy to ensure his attendance to the Senate hearing which has been set on January 23, 2024.

Quiboloy's legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio insists that the Senate has no jurisdiction on determining the liability of Quiboloy and his church on the alleged crimes raised by Hontiveros and urged her to file a criminal complaint if she has enough evidence. KJC ex-member Arlene Stone, who is now based in Minnesota in the United States welcomed the probe. Stone herself would testify in the hearing.

First hearing
The Senate of the Philippines' started the hearing on the alleged abuses under the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) and Quiboloy began on January 23, 2024. The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality oversaw the hearing with Hontiveros as the panel chairperson. She has compared the KJC to the Socorro Bayanihan Services, a religious organization which the Senate also investigated last year for alleged abuses.

Quiboloy while invited did not attend the hearing. In his stead was his legal counsel Melanio Elvis Balayan. Five former KJC members testified during the hearing.

The panel would issue a subpoena against Quiboloy for his non-attendance. Hontiveros said he has sent two invitations to Quiboloy but these were ignored. She noted however that Quiboloy sent a letter to Senate president Juan Miguel Zubiri. She urged Quiboloy to personally answer against the allegations hurled against him and further insists that the hearing does not constitute religious persecution but an inquiry on committing abuse made through exploiting one's religion or faith.

Allegations
The accounts and allegations of the former members are as follows:


 * Alias Sofia and Nina: Ukrainian nationals who were serving as pastorals or close aide to him. Sofia joined the KJC in 2014, as a 21-year old while Nina was a member from 2012 to 2021. They alleged that Quiboloy have sexually abused them and coerced them by threatening them of damnation in hell of they don't oblige. Sofia linked an older pastoral by the name Jacqueline Roy who advised her that she must commit doing sexual acts to Quiboloy. Sofia started to resist upon learning that Quiboloy's alleged victims included minors.
 * Alias Amanda, baptized to the KJC in 2012 as a 15-year old. She left the church after she alleged to have been sexually abused by Quiboloy in September 2014. She was not able to continue her studies, and consequentially work since Jose Maria College her former school which is also KJC-owned won't release her transcript of record.
 * Alias Jerome, a former full-time member from 2004. He was ordered to sell and solicit as a minor with all proceeds obliged to be remitted to the church. He testified that erring members, dubbed as "Serpent's Seeds", were told to hit their head into a wall until they are blooded. He also alleged that Quiboloy's men also placed chili on members' eyes and private parts as punishment.
 * Arlene Stone, ex-member based in the United States at the time of the hearing, claims to have been trafficked to Manila from Mindanao along with other teenage minors to sell merchandise to earn money for the KJC. She also alleged to have been hit sixty times by Quiboloy for watching a movie.

Second hearing
The second hearing was conducted on February 19, 2024. Quiboloy opted not to attend ignoring the subpoena issued on him.

A witness who worked as a landscaper for Quiboloy at Glory Mountain in Davao City would testify that then President Rodrigo Duterte and then Mayor Sara Duterte would receive firearms from Quiboloy.

Other allegations raised were KJC members being offered "fake scholarships" and forced to beg for alms for the religious organization and Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) employees not receiving wages and mandatory benefits required by the government. A lawyer for Quiboloy's side reasoned that SMNI employees does receive compensation in a form of honorarium.

Also attending the hearing, Senator Robin Padilla has vouched for Quiboloy's character saying that the church has never asked him for funds while insisting he is not taking sides.

Risa Hontiveros Chair of the Philippine Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality cited Quiboloy for contempt under Section 18 of the Rules of the Senate and sought his arrest for repeated disobedience to the panel's subpoena. Robin Padilla and Imee Marcos' objections however were duly noted. An order to show cause dated March 12, 2024, signed by Migz Zubiri and Hontiveros, upon motion of the Chairman and seconded Koko Pimentel, Quiboloy was also cited in contempt. “You are hereby ordered to show cause within a non-extendible period of 48 hours from receipt of this Order why you should not be ordered arrested and detained at the Office of the Serjeant-at-arms (Lt. Gen. Roberto T. Ancan AFP),” the order states.

On March 19, 2024, the Department of Justice filed child abuse and human trafficking charges against Quiboloy and co-accused Jackielyn W. Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid C. Canada, and Sylvia Cemane. The Information charged Quiboloy of Qualified Human Trafficking charges under Section 4 (a) of Republic Act No. 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 as amended, before a Pasig court. The charges under Section 5(b) and Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610, the "Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act" were also filed against Quiboloy before a Davao court. No bail was recommended for the charges. On March 19, 2024, the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms was directed to implement the arrest order signed by Migz Zubiri against Quiboloy within 24 hours.

Kingdom of Jesus Christ
Apollo Quiboloy would not appear on the hearings himself maintaining that all charges and accusation against him and his church are false. On February 21, 2024, he released a statement accusing President Bongbong Marcos and First lady Liza Araneta Marcos of conspiring with the United States government to silence and assassinate him. He allege that the Central Intelligence Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation of the US are plotting on his life.

Prior to the third hearing on March 5, 2024, supporters of Quiboloy and the church held a protest outside the Senate building. They denounce the hearings as unfair for lack of witnesses who would vouch for the church and urged Senator Risa Hontiveros to resign from her position.

Legal actions
The Department of Justice announced on March 4, 2024 that it would be formally filing multiple charges for sexual abuse and human trafficking against Apollo Quiboloy.

Other linked personalities outside of the hearings
After the second hearing, Vice President Sara Duterte without directly addressing her the allegations against her and her father Rodrigo Duterte concerning Quiboloy says that she is expecting further "attacks" against her. She says that the holder of the Vice President role has been subject to target to future aspirants to the role of Philippine president.

Other Senators
Senators Imee Marcos, Bong Go, Robin Padilla, and Cynthia Villar signed a written objection in a failed attempt to override the Senate panel under Hontiveros to cite Quiboloy for contempt. JV Ejercito also initially signed the objection but later withdrew it. Ronald dela Rosa along with Go and Padilla also joined a rally in support of Quiboloy.