Infamous Philippine pastor’s arrest seen as major blow to Duterte’s political fortunes

Critics of the former president say the arrest of Apollo Quiboloy is a sign the ‘Dutertes’ walls of impunity are crumbling’

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Apollo Quiboloy (centre), a Filipino preacher accused of sexual abuse and human trafficking in the Philippines and similar charges in the United States, is escorted beside Philippine Secretary of Interior and Local Government Benhur Abalos (left) during a press conference at the Camp Crame police headquarters in Quezon City on Monday. Photo: AP

Published: 8:40pm, 9 Sep 2024Updated: 5:17pm, 10 Sep 2024

The arrest of fugitive religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, a close ally of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, is being hailed by Duterte’s critics as a significant step toward accountability for the human rights violations that allegedly took place during his administration.

Rafaela David, president of the Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party, said on Monday that Akbayan “linked Quiboloy’s capture to the looming arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the thousands of extrajudicial killings during his regime”.

“The Dutertes’ walls of impunity are crumbling. Quiboloy is a key ally of Duterte. His capture is a significant step in the broader fight against the past regime’s legacy of killings, abuse, and impunity. With his arrest, the Dutertes are slowly but surely moving toward facing justice,” David said in a statement on Monday.

Quiboloy was forced to surrender on Sunday after Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III, who was charged with arresting him, finally gave the preacher 24 hours to surrender following a 16-day stand-off inside his church’s sprawling compound in Davao City.

Quiboloy, the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church (KOJC), has been accused of multiple serious crimes, including sexual abuse, human trafficking and child exploitation, which Quiboloy and his church have steadfastly denied. Both Philippine and US authorities have charged him, with the FBI listing him as wanted for trafficking-related offences.

Apollo Quiboloy speaking during a press conference in Davao City on May 23, 2016. Photo: AFP

After his arrest on Sunday, Quiboloy was flown to Manila and brought to Camp Crame in Quezon City for processing and detention.