Ex-KOJC member in US backs witness' testimony vs Quiboloy in PH Senate probe

LOS ANGELES, California — A former Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) member here has attested to the veracity of the testimony of one of Apollo Quiboloy's alleged victims, Ukrainian Yulya Voronina, concerning a person named Stephanie during a hearing by the Philippine Senate.

According to Caren Mempin, it was widely known within the organization that Quiboloy had beaten Stephanie out of jealousy after discovering her relationship with another man.

Following the assault, Stephanie tried to run away but was caught. She reportedly had long wanted to leave the group but was often apprehended whenever she attempted to escape.

“You know Quiboloy and his favorites, right? His favorites are the pastoral staff, and Stephanie got into a relationship. He didn’t like that. He didn’t want his pastors to have romantic relationships. Stephanie had tried to escape several times but was always caught. Even as a child, she had fears, which is why she couldn’t speak up about everything,” Mempin said.

Mempin was one of the KOJC members promised permanent residency in the US by Guia Cabactulan, a KOJC administrator facing charges in California.

Accoring to Mempin, she was one of the members skilled at soliciting donations for KOJC, which is why she was promised permanent residency. However, she claimed that KOJC took all her money, forcing her to sell her property in the Philippines.

There was also a time when KOJC encouraged her husband, who was a green card holder, to marry a KOJC member from the Philippines.

"They told me to follow God’s will. They made me feel guilty, saying that in heaven, you are not husband and wife— only here on Earth. They said that in the sight of Jesus, we are brother and sister, not husband and wife. That idea stuck in my mind until I almost allowed him to marry the worker there,” Mempin told GMA Integrated News.

Mempin is a friend of Marissa Duenas, another KOJC administrator facing chargse in the US. Duenas recently agreed to plead guilty to the conspiracy charge to defraud the US in exchange for a reduced sentence. 

According to Mempin, Duenas did the right thing by revealing everything she knew about KOJC’s illegal activities. She said she believes Duenas was merely following Quiboloy’s orders.

"Marissa was kind and helpful, but she just followed what she was taught. It’s true what Marissa said — she was also a victim. She was used, just like many workers and members who are blindly following,” Mempin said.

On October 21, a case conference was held regarding the plea agreement Duenas entered into with the US Attorney's Office in exchange for a reduced sentence on visa fraud charges.

Mempin and her husband, Mike, were among those interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concerning the alleged illegal activities of the KOJC.

GMA News Online has reached out to KOJC legal counsel Atty. Israelito Torreon for their comment on Mempin's statements, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Quiboloy, who attended Wednesday's Senate hearing, denied the allegations against him and dared his accusers to file charges against him. He also called the Senate proceedings "trial by publicity."

Quiboloy is facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended, before a Pasig court. He is also facing charges under Section 5(b) and  Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act. —KBK, GMA Integrated News