Metro Manila, Philippines — Religious leader Apollo Quiboloy has pleaded not guilty to two counts of qualified human trafficking and child abuse charges.

Torreon said Quiboloy’s four co-accused have entered the same plea.

An orange-clad Quiboloy, wearing a helmet and bulletproof vest, was escorted by police from his detention facility at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame to the Pasig RTC 159 early Friday.

Quiboloy, founder and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), is facing criminal charges for allegedly violating the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

Some victims claimed to have been sexually abused by the televangelist when they were as young as 12.

Quiboloy surrendered to authorities on Sunday after a two-week police operation at the KOJC compound in Davao City, where he had been hiding.

This is by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by the Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 12 for sexual abuse of minors and maltreatment – a case that has been transferred to the Quezon City RTC.

Quiboloy has been wanted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation since 2021 for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion and sex trafficking of children; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.

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In a message to NewsWatch Plus on Friday, Sept. 13, his legal counsel Israelito Torreon confirmed the development on Quiboloy’s case and his four co-accused.

“All the accused pled not guilty,” Torreon said.