SMNI published an article on April 28, which claimed that the multiple criminal charges against its owner and founder, Apollo Quiboloy in the United States are politically-motivated and particularly grounded on his association with President Rodrigo Duterte.

The article cited the statements of self-proclaimed former member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz in his interview with Quiboloy himself in a program of the network.

CLAIM:

US charges vs Quiboloy are unfounded, ‘politically-motivated’

RATING:

FALSE 

FACTS:

Apollo Quiboloy is part of the most wanted list released by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), following the release of a warrant against the church leader over multiple sex trafficking charges, fraud and coercion, conspiracy, and money smuggling cases in November 2021 after an indictment by a US District Court in California.

The founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious group allegedly participated in labor and sex trafficking scheme in the United States, where he fraudulently acquired their members’ visas and later on forced them to solicit monetary donations used for the church leaders’ luxurious living.

The FBI also highlighted how Quiboloy allegedly coerced his “pastorals” to have sex with him, including minors.

Back in 2018, Quiboloy was also briefly detained by authorities in Hawaii when they found undeclared rifle parts and a total of US$ 350,000 in his private jet that was about to take him from the US back to the Philippines. The said case, although dismissed, was the reason why the FBI initiated an in-depth investigation on Quiboloy and his religious group, Kingdom of Jesus Christ, for possible human trafficking.

The United States Embassy in the Philippines immediately clarified that Quiboloy’s cases and the timing of the release of his “most wanted” poster is not related to the country’s 2022 elections, but was a product of a “multi-year effort” of the FBI to track his alleged crimes down. This is after Quiboloy’s lawyers accused the US government that they are “undermining” the candidacy of the Marcos-Duterte presidential ticket by attacking Quiboloy who is a vocal supporter of the two, and the current president’s spiritual adviser and “close friend.”

WHY THIS MATTERS: 

Celiz has been repeatedly criticized for spreading disinformation along with Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, the spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), through their TV program in SMNI, which Quiboloy owns. –Maez Estrada and Joseph Gloria 

Altermidya Network is part of #FactsFirstPH which brings together various sectors that are committed to promoting truth in the public space, and exacting accountability on those who harm it with lies. For those interested to join the initiative, email info@factsfirst.ph.

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