KINGDOM of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, Inc. founder and lead pastor Apollo Quiboloy claimed in a viral video Saturday, October 19, that 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit areas have influence of the Kapa Community Ministry International Inc. (Kapa).
“Alam mo lumindol kahapon. May aftershocks pa. Alam mo ba saan ang naperwisyo talaga? Yung ‘Kapa country’ (Did you know that there was an earthquake yesterday? There was even an aftershock. Also, did you know that those who were gravely affected are those in the ‘Kapa country’ areas?),” Quiboloy said in his television program Powerline, aired on Friday, October 18.
The pastor cited those “Kapa countries” namely General Santos City; and Digos City, Magsaysay, and Matanao in Davao del Sur, which experienced damages after the earthquake hit on Wednesday, October 16.
Quiboloy even jokingly said that he would push the “vibrator” button, which is being tagged to him by netizens.
“Kaya mag-ingat kayo. Wag ninyong galitin ang anak. Baka totohanin ko yung sinasabi ninyong pindotin ko yung ‘vibrator’ ng sanlibutan. Guguho kayo diyan (Be careful. Do not mess with the son, or else I will seriously push the ‘vibrator’ button. You would crumble once I do that),” he said.
“Kasi alam ng ama sa langit kung ano ang nangyayari dito sa lupa. ‘Wag ninyong galitin ang anak ha. Magpaka... makinig kayo. Tingnan ninyo pag may kalamidad na ganyan, marunong pala kayong tumawag sa kanya (The father above knows everything that is happening here in this world. So, do not mess with the son. Pay attention. You only recognize the father in times of calamity like this),” he added.
Although he did not specify who he is referring to as “anak” or son, but it can be recalled he has previously made claims that he is “The Appointed Son of God”, as well as being “The Owner of the Universe”.
This made him an “online celebrity” due to various memes tagged to him.
The pastor, in a previous interview, said he is “fine” with the memes about him, saying “he just laughed it off”.
However, Quiboloy’s latest remarks were criticized by many netizens.
One Facebook user, who opted to be quoted anonymously, said the pastor’s statement was “very insensitive” especially to the victims of the earthquake.
“Earthquake is no laughing matter. It is a life and death situation,” a netizen commented on a video, which was later deleted.
Another netizen commented, saying “unsang klaseng vibrator kaha nang pasabot nimo pastor? (What kind of vibrator are you referring to pastor?)”. Some netizens thought of the “vibrator” as a device used for massage or sexual stimulation.
SunStar Davao tried to reach out to the pastor’s camp, however, a representative said he has not yet issued a statement after his remark.
As of October 17, five deaths were already recorded after the quake affected some parts of Mindanao, including Davao City.
Meanwhile, Kapa, a religious group headed by Pastor Joel Apolinario, was issued a cease and desist order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for soliciting investments, dubbed by the organization as “donations”, from the public without the necessary license.
SEC also forfeited Kapa’s certificate of incorporation for unauthorized investment-taking scheme. Kapa was registered as a religous organization.
In June this year, President Rodrigo Duterte guested in Quiboloy’s television show “Give Us This Day”.
During the interview, Quiboloy asked Duterte about his stand on Kapa, wherein the President said “It is a continuing crime. So arrest them and investigate it.”
Quiboloy has since then received criticisms and threats from Kapa members who were affected of the President’s mandate.
However, the pastor denied claims that he is “anti-poor”, even criticizing Apolinario for using the word of God as a front in their alleged illegal activities.