Philippines’ Duterte faces ‘Achilles heel’ in election over his links to wanted pastor

Former president Rodrigo Duterte still supports Apollo Quiboloy despite the evangelist facing human trafficking and fraud allegations

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Then-Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte addresses Filipino overseas workers in 2018 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. Photo: AP

Published: 12:00pm, 13 Aug 2024Updated: 4:40pm, 13 Aug 2024

As authorities hunt controversial Philippine evangelist Apollo Quiboloy, analysts believe former president Rodrigo Duterte and his family may face obstacles in next year’s midterm elections due to the longstanding ties between the two men.

Duterte had named Quiboloy as his spiritual adviser during his time in office. The father of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio continues to show support for the pastor, condemning the current Philippine administration for “demonising” Quiboloy, who faces human trafficking and fraud allegations.

Family members from the Duterte clan are expected to run for Senate seats in next year’s race, amid rising animosity between Duterte-Carpio and her former ally President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr.

Analysts say the ongoing hunt for Quiboloy is another sign of the “deterioration of the erstwhile civil relations” between the Duterte and Marcos camps.

On August 7, a Philippine court ordered the freezing of assets of Quiboloy and nine of his associates, as well as those of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), his media company Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), and his charity Children’s Joy Foundation, Inc.

Authorities again served warrants of arrest for child abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking charges against Quiboloy and several of his associates at the KOJC compound in Davao City on Friday. Quiboloy was nowhere to be found on the sprawling 30-hectare property.