Philippine Celebrity Pastor Apollo Quiboloy Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Trafficking Charges

Philippine pastor Apollo Quiboloy pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges. His lawyer, Israelito Torreon, maintained his innocence. Quiboloy, who also faces child abuse charges, appeared in court handcuffed. His attorneys and the accuser's counsel expect the truth to emerge. Millions of followers back Quiboloy, a friend of ex-president Duterte.

Philippine celebrity pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed 'Appointed Son of God,' pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges of sex trafficking, according to his lawyer.

'He is innocent,' said attorney Israelito Torreon following Quiboloy's arraignment in Manila. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for October, Torreon added. Quiboloy is also facing separate child abuse charges in another court.

'We firmly believe that the truth regarding the alleged criminal acts of Apollo C. Quiboloy and his co-accused will eventually come to light,' stated Joahna Paula Domingo, a co-counsel for the prosecutor, ahead of this morning's arraignment. 'These cases have been ongoing since 2019, with the complainant seeking justice for years,' Domingo noted.

Quiboloy, along with four co-defendants, arrived at court in a police minibus, appearing in an orange detainee outfit, handcuffed, and under heavy security. Following a weeks-long search of his church's 30-hectare compound by over 2,000 officers, Quiboloy was arrested on Sunday and is now facing multiple charges, including sex trafficking, money laundering, and child abuse in both the Philippines and the United States.

When asked for a message to his followers as he arrived in court, Quiboloy said in Filipino, 'tatag lang, tatag lang,' meaning 'stay strong, stay strong.' Quiboloy is a prominent figure with millions of followers in the Philippines, a country where church leaders significantly influence politics. He is also a longstanding friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

(With inputs from agencies.)