THE United States (US) Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac) has sanctioned Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and 39 others over alleged human rights violations and corruption.
In line with the International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day, the treasury department issued the sanctions to highlight the US government's commitment to advancing respect for human rights and battling corruption.
"For more than a decade, Apollo Carreon Quiboloy (Quiboloy) engaged in serious , including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, as well as other physical abuse," the Ofac said in a press release.
The treasury department mentioned how Quiboloy founded his church in 1985 and controversies surrounding it over the years, including the federal indictment issued by the US Department of Justice that alleged the pastor to be involved in sex trafficking "pastorals" or personal assistants that involve young women within the church.
"Pastorals were directed to have 'night duty,' which required them to have sexual intercourse with Quiboloy on a determined schedule. Quiboloy kept pastorals in various countries, including the Philippines and the United States," the Ofac said.
The agency added that Quiboloy "exploited his role" inside the KOJC to rape his victims and subject them to various forms of physical abuse, justifying his actions by claiming that they were sacrifices required by the Bible and by God for the victims’ salvation.
"The pastorals, who were mostly minors when initially abused by Quiboloy, were told by him to 'offer your body as a living sacrifice.' One female reported she lost count of the number of times she was forced to have sex with Quiboloy, as it was at least once a week even when she was a minor and in every country to which they traveled," the Ofac said.
"Another woman reported she was forced to perform night duty at least 1,000 times," it added.
The Ofac also mentioned how Quiboloy sends pastorals and KOJC members to “Upper Six,” a walled compound used solely for punishment, whenever they angered him.
The agency reiterated Quiboloy's involvement in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 2021 Wanted List for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.
Blocked
In the sanction, all property and interests in property of the designated persons that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons are blocked and must be reported to the Ofac.
The agency added that US persons or transiting within the US are not permitted to conduct business with entities that have at least 50 percent direct or indirect ownership by Quiboloy (unless authorized otherwise).
"The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person," it said. (SunStar Philippines)