No special treatment for celebrity pastor Apollo Quiboloy, says Philippine president

MANILA — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Monday (Sept 9) that evangelist preacher Apollo Quiboloy will not be given special treatment following his arrest on Sunday, after a weeks-long police search for the celebrity pastor.

Quiboloy, a self-proclaimed "owner of the universe" and "appointed son of god", is wanted on charges of child and sexual abuse and allegations of human trafficking in the Philippines. He is also wanted by Federal Bureau of Investigation in the US on charges of sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling.

Quiboloy, who has rejected all charges, is followed by millions of people in the Philippines, where church leaders hold heavy sway in politics.

"There is no special treatment," Marcos told reporters on Monday. "We will treat him like any other arrested person and respect his rights."

"We will demonstrate once again that our judicial system in the Philippines is active, vibrant and working," he added.

More than 2,000 police were deployed to search for Quiboloy, who had been hiding inside a "Bible school" at the sprawling compound in the southern city of Davao owned by his church, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), police said on Monday.

Police gave Quiboloy until Sunday to surrender, otherwise they would "assault" the building, Davao regional police chief Nicolas Torre told a press briefing on Monday.

Quiboloy was presented to the media on Monday, but his face was concealed by a cap, sunglasses, mask and scarf.

Quiboloy's lawyer, Israelito Torreon, said the pastor surrendered to the police and military because he did not want the situation to further escalate. "The innocence of Quiboloy will be affirmed by the court," Torreon told DZBB radio.

"The surrender was a formality. At the end of