World

‘Sex pest’ pastor wanted in US nabbed

Michael Andisile Mayalo|Published

A Philippine pastor wanted in the United States for child sex trafficking has been arrested, officials said.

A Philippine pastor wanted in the United States for child sex trafficking has been arrested, officials said Sunday, two weeks into a massive police manhunt.

He has also been charged with human trafficking in a Philippine court.

"Apollo Quiboloy has been arrested," interior secretary Benjamin Abalos said on his official Facebook page without providing further details.

A self-proclaimed "Son of God" and ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Quiboloy is the founder of the Philippines-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ church that claims millions of members.

The US Justice Department charged Quiboloy in 2021 with sex-trafficking of girls and women between the ages of 12 and 25 to work as personal assistants, or "pastorals", who were allegedly required to have sex with him.

Brigadier-General Nicolas Torre, the regional police chief who led the manhunt at the sect's headquarters in the southern city of Davao, confirmed the arrest at a press conference.

About 2000 police were deployed at the sect's Davao headquarters on August 24 to serve an arrest warrant against Quiboloy.

The Mercury

‘Sex pest’ pastor wanted in US nabbed