Marcos Jnr’s Philippines rattled by Quiboloy crackdown, anti-corruption push

Marcos’ moves against the shadowy Duterte-linked Pastor Apollo Quiboloy have collided with a surging anti-graft movement demanding reform

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Supporters of religious leader Apollo Quiboloy protest outside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 1:30pm, 27 Aug 2024Updated: 3:08pm, 27 Aug 2024

The Philippines’ political landscape is in turmoil, as the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr confronts two distinct opposition groups, each posing a formidable challenge.

On one front, forces loyal to the Duterte clan are decrying a police crackdown on a powerful religious leader, while on the other, civil society groups are protesting against corruption and political dynasties.

At the heart of one side of the tensions lies the ongoing stand-off surrounding the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City. For the fourth consecutive day, some 2,000 riot policemen maintained a blockade and search operation within the sprawling compound on Monday, in an effort to apprehend the influential KOJC founder, Apollo Quiboloy.

Quiboloy, whose church claims to have 7 million followers, has long served as the “spiritual adviser” to former President Rodrigo Duterte, providing crucial political support through his media empire. The police have been pursuing charges against Quiboloy since Duterte left office in 2022, and have been attempting to arrest him for several months.

An initial police raid on the KOJC compound on Friday prompted Quiboloy’s followers to gather on the nearby highway, staging a “religious prayer rally” that completely blocked access to the Davao City International Airport. The church has also claimed that the police’s storming of the 30-hectare [74-acre] KOJC compound resulted in the deaths of two followers due to fatal heart attacks.

Apollo Quiboloy, the controversial “spiritual adviser” of ex-Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: AFP

Duterte himself has harshly condemned the police raid, stating: “Our country has never been in a more tragic state as it is today. Rights have been trampled upon and our laws derided.”