Counsel: Quiboloy sanctions premature

Televangelist and founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Pastor Apollo Quiboloy denounced the sanctions of the US Department of the Treasury against him as premature since the legal case against him has yet to be heard.

In a virtual briefing on Saturday, Quiboloy's counsel Michael Jay Green said he was shocked when he learned his client was sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act for human rights violations.
Green stressed that his client is entitled to due process.

"If you read this press release, they've convicted him already. He's never been heard. The government just agreed to continue this case for another year," he said.

"This is not what we believe is the presumption of innocence we believe is a fundamental fairness for the accused to be heard," he added.

Green also apologized to Filipinos for the system of jurisprudence of the United States.

Counsel stunned
"I apologize worldwide and to the press and the people of the Philippines for this country of ours. We have a president who runs from answering questions to the press," he added.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio echoed the same sentiment, saying he was also stunned after finding out what happened to his client.

"It comes as a shock (to me). I was raised as a law student in the principles of Daniel Webster that law must hear before it condemns, that is the essence of due process, and that no person shall be deprived of life liberty or property without due process of law," Topacio said.

"You can just imagine my surprise this morning when all of the things that I have been taught about the United States of America — the origin of our Bill of Rights — all flew out of the window," he added.

US gov't blocks Quiboloy assets
On Human Rights Day, the United States government imposed sanctions on evangelist Apollo Quiboloy that include the freezing of all his stateside assets over what the US government referred to as "serious human rights violations".

Quiboloy, founder and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name was among some 40 individuals from across nine countries sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

The sanctions were imposed by the US Department of Treasury for alleged involvement in corruption and human rights abuses.

Other impositions meted out on Quiboloy were:

• All properties and interests that are in the US or in possession of US persons are blocked and must be referred to the US' treasury department;

• Any entities directly or indirectly owned, 50 percent or more are blocked;

• All transactions of US persons or within/transiting in the US that involve any of Quiboloy's property or interests in property are prohibited, unless authorized; and

• Making or receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for Quiboloy's benefit are also prohibited.

EO 13818, signed in 2017, builds upon and implements the US' Global Magnitsky Act of 2016, which provide specific sanctions to individuals for alleged human rights violations or other offenses.

"On the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day and on the eve of International Human Rights Day, the United States is taking the following actions to promote accountability for corruption and human rights abuse around the world," the US State Department said.

Indicted in November
US Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson noted that "corrupt actors and human rights abusers both rely on deficiencies in the international financial system to perpetrate their activities."

The pastor was indicted in November 2021 for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children and is currently on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's wanted list.

The victims, according to the indictment, were recruited to work as his personal assistants or "pastorals" and were allegedly directed to have sex with him during "night duty".

"Quiboloy kept pastorals in various countries, including the Philippines and the United States," the Treasury Department said.

"Quiboloy exploited his role within the KOJC to rape his victims and subject them to other physical abuse, describing these acts as sacrifices required by the Bible and by God for the victims' salvation," the US government report added.