A fugitive pastor has been arrested on sex charges

An influential Filipino pastor wanted in the Philippines and the US for child trafficking has been arrested, ending a two-week standoff between the police and his followers.

The police have been trying to arrest Apollo Quiboloy who claims to be the “Appointed Son of God”, when they raided his church compound.

Violent clashes broke out between thousands of his followers and riot police, and one church member died of a heart attack during the raid.

Mr. Quiboloy, whose Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) claims to have seven million followers, has denied all the charges against him.

In 2021, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Mr. Quiboloy with child sex trafficking, fraud and coercion and money laundering.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said he was smuggling girls and women from the Philippines to the US, where they were forced to beg for money from a fake charity.

He also required his female assistants, called “chaplains”, to have sex with him, the FBI said.

But as all this happened, Mr Quiboloy was rising to national power under then president Rodrigo Duterte, who previously served as the former leader’s spiritual advisor.

However, his fortunes turned when Mr. Duterte stepped down in June 2022.

Philippine authorities immediately charged him with child abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

For the past two weeks, thousands of police have clashed with supporters of Mr. Quiboloy, as they raided his 30-hectare KOJC compound in Davao. They said that Mr. Quiboloy was hiding in the basement based on the sound of the heartbeat detected by the surveillance equipment.

The complex has about 40 buildings, including a cathedral, a school and even a dormitory.

Mr Quiboloy’s lawyer said the two-week long manhunt has turned the KOJC compound into a “police force”, and one of their churches was “destroyed”.

On Sunday, Mr Quiboloy surrendered peacefully after he was given a 24-hour “decision”, said Col Jean Fajardo, national police spokesman.

Mr Quiboloy’s lawyer, Israelto Torreon, said his client surrendered “because he does not want the lawless violence to continue”.

The circumstances of his arrest were not clear, except that it happened in a compound.

The regional police chief, Brig Gen Nicolas Torre, said a “joint effort of everyone involved” led to the arrests.

Mr. Quiboloy and four others arrested with him were taken to the police headquarters in the capital Manila where they were arrested.

Before he was arrested, Mr Quiboloy said that “the devil” was the cause of his legal problems.

He also said he did not want the FBI to “interfere” in his case.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mr Marcos said the Philippines is not considering repatriating Mr Quiboloy yet.

The disagreement at the KOJC has come as disagreements have erupted between the political families of Marcos and Duterte.

The US DOJ sought his arrest a few months before Mr Duterte handed over power to current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, but it was during Mr Marcos’ tenure that authorities began to go after the cleric.

While Mr. Quiboloy was hiding, Mr. Duterte said he knew where he was but would not tell the police.

Mr. Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte also criticized the police who went after Mr. Quiboloy for using “questionable” force.

Mr. Quiboloy founded KOJC in Davao in 1985, after hearing God whisper to him “I will use you” when he attended an event by American pastor Billy Graham in South Korea in 1973, the organization said.

When he is not in Davao, he is seen traveling in his private jet.

He delivers his sermons on a glass platform set against large pictures of his green hilltop building called the “Garden of Eden Restored”.

These are broadcast on his television, radio and social media.

Despite his longstanding relationship with the Dutertes, Mr Quiboloy has increased his political influence by endorsing candidates for his followers during elections, a common practice among religious leaders in a country where politics is based on patronage rather than ideology.