Embattled preacher’s woes increasing
Analysis:
Teodoro ‘Ted’ Alcuitas
A Rappler investigation has uncovered two mansions in Canada owned by the bedevilled Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the controversial head of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church in the Philippines. The two properties valued at $3.87 million, are located in Surrey, British Columbia and Brampton, Ontario.
Surrey
The seven-bedroom property in Surrey at 168th Street is just a 15-minute drive from a KOJC church on 13055 Old Yale Road, a gated community. Surrey, the largest city in the province is about half an hour away from Vancouver. The 5112.86 square foot (475 square meters) was built in 2003 assessed to be worth CAD$2.42 million (US$1.79 million/P99.5 million) in 2023. Its land value was estimated to be worth CAD$1.68 million (US$1.25 million/P69 million) and improvements done on the property cost CAD$734,000 (US$544,197/P30.17 million), according to tax records seen by Rappler. The owners paid CAD$7,297.54 (US$5,410/P300,000) in gross taxes for 2023, indicating the house is not used as a church which is exempted from property taxes.
A document obtained by Rappler from the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia shows that the property is owned by another known Quiboloy associate, Mariteo Canada. Her name was cited in an article posted on Quiboloy’s website. She was also tagged as part of Quiboloy’s delegation in an event with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in 2022.
Ontario
The close to 5,000 sq. ft. four-bedroom house is situated along Latania Boulevard, a half-hour car ride to Toronto. The alleged Quiboloy-linked property was first listed as being for sale in April 2010 for CAD$699,000 (US$518,243/P27.73 million) and was sold the same year for CAD$658,000 (US$487,826/P27 million).
The property was last listed as being available in September 2020 for CAD$1.45 million (US$1.74 million/P96.25 million) but with no indication whether it was successfully sold. Taxes paid were estimated to be CAD$7,721 (US$5,723/P317,249).
According to a property document obtained by Rappler, one of the two listed owners is linked to the KOJC. Her profile on LinkedIn showed that she is an “administrative assistant” of the church. A cursory search of other names included in the document also showed connections to Quiboloy’s group.
The property is half an hour’s drive from the nearest KOJC headquarters., according to the Rappler report. We tried to search for the headquarters in Ontario but nothing shows up.
California
The Rappler investigation also revealed Quiboloy allegedly owns a 6,000 square feet , six-bedroom mansion at Simpson Pl, Calabasas, Los Angeles valued at $2.573 million U.S. (P116.55 million). Its investigation shows ownership changed four times from 2011 – 2018 among Quibolou known associates – Helen Panilag and Guia Cabactutan.
Facing Senate arrest
The embattled ‘Son of Man’ is wanted by the Philippine Senate for contempt and is facing arrest . A Senate committee has cited him in contempt and has sought his arrest so he could testify before the panel which is looking into similar allegations of abuse and exploitation hurled by his former followers.
In addition to the Philippine arrest warrant, Quiboloy is also wanted in the U.S. for alleged Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion, and Sex Trafficking of Children; Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion; Conspiracy; Bulk Cash Smuggling. So far, the U.S. has not requested for his formal extradition, so the Philippine government cannot arrest him, but a Rappler report on March 7, 2024 says a California judge has ‘unsealed’ the warrants, a first step in the extradition process.
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/quiboloy-hides-us-government-moves-arrest-warrant/
Meanwhile in Canada, his church is alleged to have committed some 100 fraudulent marriages. This allegation was made on March 5, 2024 by Dindo Maquiling, a former follower of Apollo Quiboloy during a Senate investigation. The investigation resulted in Quiboloy’s warrant of arrest for contempt for failing to show up in the investigation.
Long history
The ‘Son of Man’ (Rappler Investigates] Son of a gun!) has been in the limelight in the Philippines ever since former TV host Kris Aquino featured him in an exclusive interview for ABS/CBN in 2016. Aquino, who is now in the U.S. undergoing treatment of a life-threatening ailment, was given unprecedented time to tour his host’s sprawling enclave in Davao. Since then, Quiboloy’s ‘empire’ rose to dazzling prominence with branches all over the world.
Related reading:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x417tuh
He seems to savour his success and wealth with abandon, believing perhaps that his God could protect him from the slings and arrows of his alleged enemies. Indeed, in the Philippines, he is ably protected by his ‘Gods’ not the least of which is former President Rodrigo Duterte whose rise to the presidency was alleged to have been bankrolled by Quiboloy.
His problems with the Philippine Senate investigation is stymied by a phalanx of formidable politicians lead by no less than the current President Bongbong Marcos and his vice-president Sarah Duterte, daughter of former president Duterte. Senators Villar and Padilla are also behind Quiboloy who from all indications, is replacing the formidable Iglesia ni Christo as an election backer and kingmaker in Philippine politics.
Quiboloy in Canada
The PhilippineCanadianNews.Com (PCN) has long been tracking Quiboloy in Canada with over seven stories over the years.
Related reading:
Duterte ally Apollo Quiboloy indicted for sex trafficking in US
Breaking: Quiboloy church worker pleads guilty in plea bargain
https://philippinecanadiannews.com/canada/breaking-will-the-son-of-man-be-finally-brought-to-justice/
We first noticed Quiboloy follower’s activities at the height of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 when a number of his followers, mostly women, were seen around the St. Mary’s catholic church on Joyce St. They were piggybacking on the church’s drive for typhoon victims and doing their own collection among Vancouver’s largest Filipino parishioners.
His ‘workers’ were also prominent around Vancouver’s skytrain stations wearing the trademark collection boxes around their necks emblazoned with the Children’s Joy Foundation logo – the allegedly registered charitable foundation to help the poor children in the Philippines.
Our investigation also showed the church was operating across Canada with questionable tactics verging on harassment at some point. A number of complaints were filed against the ‘workers’ methods but no arrest or conviction resulted.
But with these recent developments, is Quiboloy’s sun setting finally?