A Philippine court has issued an arrest order for evangelist preacher Apollo Quiboloy, a close friend of former President Rodrigo Duterte, on charges of human trafficking and sexual abuse. The Apollo Quiboloy arrest came after his indictment by the Philippine Department of Justice last month, which overturned a 2020 decision to dismiss the charges. The Justice Department credited the victim’s persistence in pursuing her case, which brought new attention to the gravity of the allegations. Quiboloy, who is also on the FBI’s most-wanted list in the U.S. for separate sex trafficking charges, has consistently denied all accusations. Despite requests for comment, neither Quiboloy’s legal team nor representatives of Duterte have responded to the media.
Philippine Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. confirmed the Apollo Quiboloy arrest via Facebook but did not provide specific details about the location or circumstances of his capture. Quiboloy, who describes himself as the “owner of the universe” and the “appointed son of God,” was apprehended following an extensive police operation. Over 2,000 officers were deployed to search Quiboloy’s sprawling compound in Davao, where he was hiding in a “Bible school.” Authorities had given him until Sunday to surrender, or they would have stormed the premises. According to Quiboloy’s lawyer, the preacher chose to surrender voluntarily to avoid further escalation and maintains confidence in proving his innocence in court.
Following the arrest, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized that Quiboloy would not receive any special treatment, despite his religious influence and large following. Marcos stressed that Quiboloy would be treated like any other detainee, with full respect for his legal rights. The president also dismissed Quiboloy’s demands to avoid extradition to the United States, reiterating that the preacher will first face trial in the Philippines. While the Philippines has an extradition treaty with the U.S., the Department of Justice clarified that Quiboloy would need to face justice domestically before any potential extradition proceedings could begin.
