Apollo Quiboloy, a Filipino self-proclaimed messiah, has pleaded not guilty to the human trafficking charges, during his arraignment in Manila this Friday.

“He is innocent”, said his lawyer, Israelito Torreon, who also told reporters waiting outside the court that a pre-trial hearing is scheduled for October. Quiboloy was also due to plead later in another court on child abuse charges.

Quiboloy is the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church (KOJC), and self-proclaimed “owner of the universe” and “appointed son of god”.

The religious leader arrived at the court along with four other co-accused, weaning a bulletproof helmet and a vest. When asked by a reporter what his message to followers was, he said “tatag lang, tatag lang”, which means “stay strong, stay strong” in Filipino.

Human trafficking, coercion, smuggling

Apollo Quiboloy was arrested on Sunday September 8, after two weeks of standoff and clashes between the police and the pastor’s followers, as authorities searched the massive church compound in the southern city of Davao.

Interior Minister Benhur Abalos confirmed that Quiboloy was found inside the compound's bible school, and that he was arrested and did not surrender, contrary to earlier reports.

Last June, the Philippine Department of Justice charged the 74-year-old with sex abuse, prompting a court to issue his arrest warrant. Five other members of his church were also charged with human trafficking and other acts of child abuse.

In 2021, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Quiboloy with sex trafficking of children, fraud and coercion and bulk cash smuggling.

They claimed that the leader of KOJC ran a sex trafficking ring that coerced girls and women aged 12 to 25, who were called “pastorals”, to have sex with him under threats of “eternal damnation“ for nearly 15 years.

Furthermore, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) “wants him for his alleged participation in a labour trafficking scheme that brought church members to the US, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced them to solicit donations for a bogus charity”.

Quiboloy has denied all the charges against him.

Close ties with former president Duterte

The Filipino pastor has always had a very close relationship with former president Rodrigo Duterte, who accused the government of persecuting Quiboloy, calling the raids on the KOJC properties in Davao City “overkill”.

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

The vice president and Duterte's daughter, Sara Duterte, also criticised that police pursued Quiboloy applying “questionable force“.