A former member of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) testified before the Senate panel that her 13-year-old son was allegedly exploited for selling products and that the ministry falsely claimed they were providing education for the child.
Jocelyn Mondejar mentioned that she was once a full-time worker for the KOJC in 1993. Like other members, she stated that they were made to produce money through begging and other possible means.
"Ako, umaakyat ako ng bus gamit ‘yung iba-ibang association. Lahat-lahat ginawa namin," Mondejar said during the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality hearing on Wednesday.
In November 2021, she left her position as a worker due to an ulcer. She claimed that her ulcer was caused by the punishment of dry fasting, which she experienced in 1999.
"From Cagayan pinapunta ako ng Davao for dry fasting. 7 days ng hindi ko rin alam kung bakit wala na hong nagsabi," Mondejar recounted her experience.
In April 2021, her child was invited to participate in what was claimed to be preparation for youth camp practice. She allowed it, believing it would help her child grow closer to God and prevent them from going astray.
However, night fell, and only two of her children returned home.
"[Tinanong] ko ‘yung ministrong assigned kung nasaan. Tinanong ko through chat. Hindi rin niya alam tapos nalaman ko na lang sa may kapitbahay ko, na member din nila, na dinala pala ‘yung anak kong 13-years-old sa tinatawag nilang glass house," said Mondejar.
The so-called "glass house" is allegedly where young people recruited for logistics training, including those involved in selling, are taken.
Mondejar stated that she had no means of communication with her child because the child did not have a cellphone. After three days of persistence with the minister, she was able to talk to her child using the cellphone of the assigned youth leader.
When she finally spoke to her child, she was shocked to find that his manner of speaking changed and seemed different for someone his age.
“Mama hindi na ako mag-aral kasi babalik na ang Panginoon tapos si Pastor Quiboloy ma-g-glorify na," her child said told her.
“So nagulat ako kasi bagong member lang ‘yung 13-years-old ko at that time. Masipag sya mag-aral. Talagang sobrang sipag niya mag-aral. Nagulat ako ganon na ang salita niya," she added.
She explained to her child that even if Quiboloy is glorified, the world will continue; it is not true that the world will come to an end.
The mother further emphasized to her child that he needed to continue his education because it was the right thing to do.
However, her child insisted that he wanted to sell for Quiboloy for the rest of his life because he believed that this would help him reach the "seventh heaven."
Her son responded to her and said, “Mama, hindi naman talaga kayo ang tunay na may-ari ng buhay namin. Ginamit lang kayong instrumento ng Diyos para mailuwal kami. Pero ang nagmamay-ari sa amin is si Pastor Quiboloy, ang anak ng Diyos."
However, the most serious act allegedly committed by the group was falsifying her child's education.
"Kinuha nila ‘yung previous report card nung anak ko noong grade 8 tapos PSA. Kunyari inenroll nila. Pero sa isip ko bilang isang ina, paano ang isang bata nakakapag-aral ng mula umaga hanggang gabi madaling-araw, nagtitinda ng otap?" said Mondejar.
She claimed to have sought help from her child's former teacher to verify whether her child was truly enrolled, but it was confirmed that he was not enrolled in any school at all.
She then persisted and threatened the ministry that she would go to the hideout with officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
“Siguro sa takot nilang ma-eskandalo, hinatid nila ‘yung anak ko sa bahay," Mondejar said.
"To make the story short, nakauwi ang anak ko. Napilitan sila. Sinubukan kong i-enroll ulit sa grade 9 para makita ko kung anong reaction ng bata. Wala siyang kahit anong reaction. So na-confirm ko na hindi talaga siya nag-aral," she added.
The mother is one of the few survivor victims who appeared before the Senate panel to recount her experiences of the alleged abuse by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) and its religious leader, Apollo Quiboloy.
