Self-confessed ‘Angels of Death’ member says group threatened alleged Quiboloy victims: PNP | ABS-CBN
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Self-confessed ‘Angels of Death’ member says group threatened alleged Quiboloy victims: PNP
Self-confessed ‘Angels of Death’ member says group threatened alleged Quiboloy victims: PNP
ABS-CBN News
Published Sep 20, 2024 02:21 PM PHT
MANILA – A self-tagged member of Apollo Quiboloy’s supposed private army “Angels of Death” has backed the sexual abuse allegations against the televangelist, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.
MANILA – A self-tagged member of Apollo Quiboloy’s supposed private army “Angels of Death” has backed the sexual abuse allegations against the televangelist, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.
The supposed Angels of Death member is in the custody of the Davao Region police and claimed that the group was used to threaten Quiboloy's alleged victims, said PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo.
The supposed Angels of Death member is in the custody of the Davao Region police and claimed that the group was used to threaten Quiboloy's alleged victims, said PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo.
But the official clarified that investigators were still verifying the statement of the self-confessed private army member.
The Philippine Army earlier said it was working with the Philippine National Police to verify reports that some Army reservists and militiamen were involved with the Angels of Death.
Col. Reynaldo Balido Jr., deputy chief of the Army Chief Public Affairs, said some members of Quiboloy-led Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) are reservists.
Sonshine Media Network Inc., the KOJC’s media arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), has denied the existence of the supposed private army.
SMNI legal counsel Mark Tolentino told ABS-CBN News said the group’s reservists are only tasked with helping soldiers conduct community service when needed and are not even authorized to handle guns.
He said that KOJC members are more accurately described as "prayer warriors" who he said are dedicated to spiritual battle, not violence.
But the official clarified that investigators were still verifying the statement of the self-confessed private army member.
The Philippine Army earlier said it was working with the Philippine National Police to verify reports that some Army reservists and militiamen were involved with the Angels of Death.
Col. Reynaldo Balido Jr., deputy chief of the Army Chief Public Affairs, said some members of Quiboloy-led Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) are reservists.
Sonshine Media Network Inc., the KOJC’s media arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), has denied the existence of the supposed private army.
SMNI legal counsel Mark Tolentino told ABS-CBN News said the group’s reservists are only tasked with helping soldiers conduct community service when needed and are not even authorized to handle guns.
He said that KOJC members are more accurately described as "prayer warriors" who he said are dedicated to spiritual battle, not violence.
The Philippine Army earlier said it was working with the Philippine National Police to verify reports that some Army reservists and militiamen were involved with the Angels of Death.
Col. Reynaldo Balido Jr., deputy chief of the Army Chief Public Affairs, said some members of Quiboloy-led Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) are reservists.
Sonshine Media Network Inc., the KOJC’s media arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), has denied the existence of the supposed private army.
SMNI legal counsel Mark Tolentino told ABS-CBN News said the group’s reservists are only tasked with helping soldiers conduct community service when needed and are not even authorized to handle guns.
He said that KOJC members are more accurately described as "prayer warriors" who he said are dedicated to spiritual battle, not violence.
Quiboloy lawyers: No private army, just 'prayer warriors'
Quiboloy in February said women had made up sexual abuse allegations against him because he had rejected their advances.
A self-proclaimed "Appointed Son of God", Quiboloy surrendered on Sept. 8, two weeks into a police search of his sect's sprawling compound in Davao City.
Quiboloy lawyers: No private army, just 'prayer warriors'
Quiboloy in February said women had made up sexual abuse allegations against him because he had rejected their advances.
A self-proclaimed "Appointed Son of God", Quiboloy surrendered on Sept. 8, two weeks into a police search of his sect's sprawling compound in Davao City.
Quiboloy in February said women had made up sexual abuse allegations against him because he had rejected their advances.
A self-proclaimed "Appointed Son of God", Quiboloy surrendered on Sept. 8, two weeks into a police search of his sect's sprawling compound in Davao City.
Footage: Actual surrender, arrest of Apollo Quiboloy
He has pleaded not guilty to child abuse and sex abuse charges.
Aged at least 74, Quiboloy faces life in prison in the Philippines if found guilty of human trafficking in a case involving the alleged use of women and child sect members to sell goods and raise funds for his church.
A US grand jury has separately indicted Quiboloy for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of children, and bulk cash smuggling.
The 2021 US indictment alleges women were recruited as personal assistants for Quiboloy to prepare his meals, clean his residence, give him massages, and have sex with him.
Following his arrest in Davao, police said more victims, including girls as young as 12, have come forward to allege sex crimes committed against them by the pastor.
The young victims were told they were having sex with the "Spirit of God", and were threatened not to tell anyone on pain of being hunted down by "Angels of Death", police said.
Quiboloy's Kingdom of Christ Church said on its website that members have "freedom of choice" and thus "anything that happens to you... is your own voluntary will or choice".
The powerful sect claims millions of followers in the mainly Catholic Asian nation and owns a television network.
Footage: Actual surrender, arrest of Apollo Quiboloy
He has pleaded not guilty to child abuse and sex abuse charges.
Aged at least 74, Quiboloy faces life in prison in the Philippines if found guilty of human trafficking in a case involving the alleged use of women and child sect members to sell goods and raise funds for his church.
A US grand jury has separately indicted Quiboloy for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of children, and bulk cash smuggling.
The 2021 US indictment alleges women were recruited as personal assistants for Quiboloy to prepare his meals, clean his residence, give him massages, and have sex with him.
Following his arrest in Davao, police said more victims, including girls as young as 12, have come forward to allege sex crimes committed against them by the pastor.
The young victims were told they were having sex with the "Spirit of God", and were threatened not to tell anyone on pain of being hunted down by "Angels of Death", police said.
Quiboloy's Kingdom of Christ Church said on its website that members have "freedom of choice" and thus "anything that happens to you... is your own voluntary will or choice".
The powerful sect claims millions of followers in the mainly Catholic Asian nation and owns a television network.
He has pleaded not guilty to child abuse and sex abuse charges.
Aged at least 74, Quiboloy faces life in prison in the Philippines if found guilty of human trafficking in a case involving the alleged use of women and child sect members to sell goods and raise funds for his church.
A US grand jury has separately indicted Quiboloy for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of children, and bulk cash smuggling.
The 2021 US indictment alleges women were recruited as personal assistants for Quiboloy to prepare his meals, clean his residence, give him massages, and have sex with him.
Following his arrest in Davao, police said more victims, including girls as young as 12, have come forward to allege sex crimes committed against them by the pastor.
The young victims were told they were having sex with the "Spirit of God", and were threatened not to tell anyone on pain of being hunted down by "Angels of Death", police said.
Quiboloy's Kingdom of Christ Church said on its website that members have "freedom of choice" and thus "anything that happens to you... is your own voluntary will or choice".
The powerful sect claims millions of followers in the mainly Catholic Asian nation and owns a television network.
President Ferdinand Marcos recently said the government was not yet looking to extradite the pastor to the United States, because "we are focusing on the cases filed in the Philippines".
President Ferdinand Marcos recently said the government was not yet looking to extradite the pastor to the United States, because "we are focusing on the cases filed in the Philippines".
– With report from Raya Capulong, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse
– With report from Raya Capulong, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse
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