The Department of Justice (DOJ) has yet to discuss the possible sanctions of the United States Department of the Treasury on televangelist and Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church leader Apollo Quiboloy in connection to his physical and sexual abuse allegations.
"The DOJ has yet to discuss the ins and outs of the sanctions on Mr. Quiboloy. It is simply too premature for us to speak on the issue," the DOJ said in a statement.
The department added that they will also gather verified information and seek advice from US legal experts for it to act accordingly.
On Friday (Saturday in Manila), the US treasury department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) blocked all transactions of Quiboloy, his Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) religious sect, and other properties within US territory, effectively freezing their assets.
The sanctions meant that “all property and interests in property” in the United States “or in the possession or control of US persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC.”
“For more than a decade, Apollo Carreon Quiboloy engaged in serious human rights abuse, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, as well as other physical abuse,” OFAC said in a press statement.
In 2021, Quiboloy was charged with sex trafficking by US prosecutors as he coerced underage girls and young women to have sex with him under threat of "eternal damnation."
Quiboloy served as the spiritual adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte. He also backed the candidacy of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the May 9 national elections.
