Pastor Apollo Quiboloy: I did not commit any crime

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy maintained yesterday that he did not commit any crime in the United States.  

Lawyer Israelito Torreon, spokesman and legal counsel of the international evangelist, said Quiboloy wanted to convey this message to his followers, which the group places at six million worldwide.

Torreon also said Quiboloy, whose private jet has been impounded in Hawaii after $350,000 in cash and rifle components were found by US authorities who boarded the aircraft, was not “detained.”

“I have to clarify everything. Detention implies that he committed a crime and that he violated US law. He was not detained, he did not violate any US law and as a matter of fact, he is back in the Philippines,” Torreon said. 

Malacañang kept its distance from Quiboloy, saying the known supporter of President Duterte was a private individual who could deal with the issue himself.

Torreon said Quiboloy arrived in Manila at 6:30 p.m. last Thursday on a commercial flight since his private plane was sequestered in Honolulu.

Quiboloy is preparing for a prayer-concert tomorrow at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, the lawyer said, adding that the minister will continue with the series in Baguio, Cebu and Iloilo on the following weekends.

Torreon also said Quiboloy would appear in ABS-CBN Davao to clarify the matter of his reported detention.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) yesterday confirmed that Quiboloy arrived last Thursday night at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

BI spokesperson Ma. Antonette Mangrobang said Quiboloy arrived on board a Philippine Airlines flight.

However, Mangrobang denied reports that BI personnel “escorted” the 67-year-old pastor out of the airport. 

“Quiboloy underwent immigration arrival formalities. In light of the expected deluge of media upon his arrival, BI deemed it best to process his arrival in our office to avoid any commotion in the immigration area and affect other arriving passengers,” Mangrobang said.

Quiboloy is said to be close to President Duterte and supported his 2016 electoral campaign by lending his plane, among others.

But Malacañang yesterday distanced itself from the controversy surrounding Quiboloy.

“We do not have a comment on that. The pastor is a private individual. He is capable of defending himself,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a chance interview yesterday in Manila.  

Duterte and Quiboloy have not spoken to each other since the pastor arrived from the US, Roque added. 

Duterte, who has claimed that he believes in God but not in organized religion, and Quiboloy have been friends for about 30 years. 

They met when Duterte was still a city prosecutor and Quiboloy was still forming his congregation with 15 members in barrio Agdao in Davao. 

Before the President assumed office in 2016, there were reports that Quiboloy felt slighted because he was not involved in picking Duterte’s Cabinet members. 

The religious leader denied this, saying he did not use his friendship with Duterte to gain favors. He also claimed to be “squarely behind” the President and his effort to protect public interest. 

Last Feb. 13, US Customs and Border Protection agents boarded Quiboloy’s Cessna Citation Sovereign jet and reportedly found $350,000 in cash and some components of a rifle.

Felina Salinas, said to be a leader of Quiboloy’s group in Hawaii, claimed ownership of the cash consisting of $100 bills wrapped in socks inside a suitcase, according to the website HawaiiNewsNow.com report.

Salinas was charged with attempted bulk cash smuggling for under-declaring the amount of cash she was carrying. She was released on a $25,000 bond, the report added.

Quiboloy was about to leave for Manila following the last leg of his “King is Coming” tour in the US when his plane was searched. – With Evelyn Macairan, Alexis Romero, Paolo Romero