Apollo Quiboloy

Apollo Carreon Quiboloy (born April 25, 1950) is a Filipino pastor and church leader of the Philippines-based Restorationist church called the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC).

Quiboloy was born on April 25, 1950, in Buhangin, Davao City, specifically in the area of Dumanlas, and is the youngest of nine children of Pampangans José Quiboloy y Turla and María Carreón y Quinto (born December 28, 1913).

Both his parents were natives of Lubao, Pampanga, and had migrated to Davao City following the end of the Second World War to find better opportunities.

Quiboloy spent his formative years in Pampanga before moving back to Davao.

Quiboloy was a member of the United Pentecostal Church, a Oneness Pentecostal denomination, until he established the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church.

Quiboloy's father, José, was already a Protestant (a member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance) but converted to Oneness Pentecostalism with his four sons.

They all became preachers and leaders in the United Pentecostal Church of the Philippines (UPCP), the largest Filipino Oneness Pentecostal Church, which is affiliated to the US-based United Pentecostal Church International.

Quiboloy studied in a Bible college in Manila where he graduated from in 1972; he also attended a conference in South Korea mostly attended by American and Canadian evangelists the following year.

Apollo became president of the powerful UPCP youth organization in 1974, but was expelled from UPCP in 1979 for unorthodox teachings.

He came back and was accepted back into the fold in 1980 as pastor of the Agdao Church in Davao City, one of the historical UPCP churches.

Previously a member of the United Pentecostal Church, he founded the KJC in 1985, and has made claims that he is "the Appointed Son of God" as well as being "the Owner of the Universe".

On November 10, 2021, a federal warrant was issued for Quiboloy's arrest after prosecutors in California announced sex trafficking charges against Quiboloy, alleging that he and several others had sexually abused female church members aged 12 to 25 in exchange for privileges as well as avoiding "eternal damnation".

Quiboloy's assets in the United States have been described by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as "ill-gotten".

On December 10, 2022, the US Department of Treasury and Department of State imposed sanctions on Quiboloy alongside several other individuals in connection with corruption and gross human rights abuses.

In 1985, Apollo was put again under investigation by UPCP for his arrogant attitude towards other pastors.

Rather than submitting to trial, he left UPCP with some 15 followers on September 1, 1985, and started his own denomination, later known as the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Quiboloy is the founding leader and Executive Pastor of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name founded on September 1, 1985.

He began preaching in the slums of Villamor, Agdao, Davao City with only 15 members.

He has received critical responses to his claims of being the "Appointed Son of God".

The sect's main cathedral is located along Buhangin National Highway in Davao City.

His followers refer to their community as a "Kingdom Nation."

They claim about 2 million "Kingdom citizens" abroad and 4 million in the Philippines.

On weekdays, members hold bible sessions and prayer services.

On Sundays, a "Global Worship" is held at the Cathedral in Buhangin District.

In 2000, Quiboloy founded José María College, named after his parents.

The church under Quiboloy's leadership would establish the Sonshine Media Network International (President and CEO), and 17 radio stations in the Philippines.

It also has two newspapers, Pinas and Sikat.

Quiboloy anointed Gilbert Teodoro as the next president in the 2010 Philippine presidential election.

Teodoro finished fourth in the election with 4,095,839 votes (or 11.33%).

He remarked that he was disturbed by reports of fraud and cheating and wondered to whom did votes from his church go.

The church also has Sonshine Sports Management, a sports management group established in 2014.

In the 2016 elections, Quiboloy and the members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ endorsed the presidential candidacy of the pastor's close friend, Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte and his running mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

Quiboloy also lent his private jet and helicopter to be used in Duterte's presidential campaign.

Quiboloy also served as Duterte's spiritual adviser during his presidency.

In the 2022 elections, Quiboloy endorsed the candidacy of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.. who was running for president.

He supported his vice presidential candidate, Sara Duterte as well.

Quiboloy's parents' loyal support for former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was a factor for the endorsement.

Quiboloy has claimed possession of divine powers, including stopping the 2019 Cotabato earthquakes at his command, and has said that the public should thank him for the act.

He has publicly said that he did not do the same to stop the onslaught of Typhoon Kammuri (Tisoy) in response to those critical of his earlier claim in stopping the Cotabato earthquakes.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, following his indictment by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation in November 2021, Quibolloy said that the emergence of the Omicron variant is due to the "persecuting, prosecuting and maligning" he received from the public.