US Federal Bureau of Investigation raided today a church in Los Angeles founded by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy — Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) — in a human trafficking investigation, the Associated Press reported
They were arrested during morning raids at KJC’s offices in Van Nuys, Glendale, and Los Angeles in Southern California, and another one in Virginia on immigration fraud charges, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
The leaders were identified as Guia Cabactulan, 59, Marissa Duenas, 41, and Amanda Estopare, 48.
The FBI has been investigating KJC for six years after church workers who escaped reported to authorities that they have recruited in the US and forced to work long hours, beg money from the streets as donations for the church. If they fail to meet the daily quota, they claimed to have been beaten and psychologically abused.
Some victims even said they are even made to sleep in the cars at truck stops.
Quiboloy, President Duterte’s longtime friend and supporter, founded KJC in Davao City. He claims to be the “Appointed Son of God,” with six million followers.
US investigators say KJC has been obtaining US visas for their members, in the guise of performing in musical events in America. However, upon arrival, members’ passports were taken away and forced to work “as volunteers” to solicit money for poor children.
Close to $20 million were estimated to have been collected between 2014-2019 which did not go to the children’s foundation but funneled to KJC’s operations.
To keep workers in the US, KJC administrators would use schemes like involving them in sham marriages or enroll them in schools.
