Pastor Apollo Quiboloy estimates that the membership of his religious group, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), is around seven million.
Appearing before the Senate panel for the first time on Wednesday, Quiboloy was asked by Senator Risa Hontiveros about the number of members in his group.
Quiboloy initially responded that he would need to verify the exact count but provided an estimate when pressed by Hontiveros.
"More or less po including mga partners — ibig sabihin yung hindi pa miyembro pero covenant partner na sila, mga more or less seven million," Quiboloy stated.
Hontiveros then followed up by asking if Quiboloy had sexually abused his members and used religion to commit the alleged crimes. He denied the accusations, saying, "wala pong katotohanan 'yung kanilang sinabi."
The self-proclaimed "anointed son of God" encouraged his accusers to file criminal charges against him, declaring:
"Kung mayroon po silang charges na kriminal laban sa akin, malaya po silang magfile ng kaso at doon ko sila sasagutin at haharapin sa tamang forum sa korte ng ating lupa tulad ng kinakaharap natin ngayon," said the KOJC pastor.
Furthermore, Quiboloy also denied that he forced the children who are members of KOJC to beg, stating that they have no such 'policy.'
Several former KOJC members have testified before the Senate, stating that they were abused by Quiboloy.
It can be recalled in an interview on DZRH News on September 19, Arlene Stone, a former member of KOJC said that the religious group only has 7,000 to 8,000 members, citing information she received from an international member of the group.
"Sinasabi ni Quiboloy 8 million sila pero wala naman silang data," said Stone.
Quiboloy is facing charges of qualified human trafficking and sexual abuse in separate courts in Metro Manila. He was apprehended by authorities at the KOJC compound on September 9, following several days of search operations.
