The United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy over his involvement in alleged "serious human rights abuse".
Quiboloy, the spiritual adviser of former president Rodrigo Duterte, is among 40 individuals and entities from nine countries included in a US Department of the Treasury report announcing that they were being sanctioned due to their alleged involvement in corruption and human rights abuse.
The declaration of sanctions was announced as the world observes International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day.
"For more than a decade, Apollo Carreon Quiboloy engaged in serious human rights abuse, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, as well as other physical abuse," the OFAC said.
The department also mentioned the US federal indictment last year that alleged Quiboloy's involvement in the sex trafficking of "pastorals" — young women within the KOJC selected to work as personal assistants for Quiboloy.
"Pastorals were directed to have 'night duty,' which required them to have sexual intercourse with Quiboloy on a determined schedule. Quiboloy kept pastorals in various countries, including the Philippines and the United States," the report 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 pastorals, who were mostly minors when initially abused by Quiboloy, were told by him to 'offer your body as a living sacrifice.' One female reported she lost count of the number of times she was forced to have sex with Quiboloy, as it was at least once a week even when she was a minor and in every country to which they traveled. Another woman reported she was forced to perform night duty at least 1,000 times."
"Quiboloy also subjected pastorals and other KOJC members to other forms of physical abuse," the OFAC added. "Reports indicate Quiboloy personally beat victims and knew where to hit them so there would be no visible bruising. Pastorals and KOJC members who angered Quiboloy were at times sent to 'Upper Six,' a walled compound used solely for punishment."
The OFAC said Quiboloy was sanctioned pursuant to Executive Order No. 13818 or the Blocking the Property of Persons Involved in Serious Human Rights Abuse or Corruption.
In a separate statement, Kanishka Gangopadhyay, the spokesman of the US Embassy in Manila, explained that Quiboloy was sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act for human rights violations.
"Among other effects, all property and interests in property for Quiboloy in the US are blocked, and US persons and entities are blocked from engaging in transactions with Quiboloy," Gangopadhyay said.
Under the sanction, Quiboloy will also be blocked from any entities where he owns, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or greater interest.
The sanction announcement of the US Department of the Treasury here.