Philippine ‘Son of God’ pastor pleads not guilty to child abuse, trafficking charges

Philippine celebrity pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who calls himself the “Appointed Son of God”, pleaded not guilty on Friday to several criminal charges including sexually abusing a child during arraignments in two separate courts, his lawyer said.

Quiboloy, leader of the Philippine-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church which says it has six million followers worldwide, arrived at the heavily guarded Pasig court in a bulletproof helmet and vest.

He told his followers to “stay strong” before police took him into the courtroom.

“He is innocent,” his lawyer, Israelito Torreon, told reporters after his client’s first arraignment. Quiboloy also pleaded not guilty to the sexual abuse charges at a Quezon City court via teleconferencing.

Quiboloy, a long-time friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte, is on a US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s “most wanted” list after he was indicted for sexual abuse, human trafficking and other crimes.