Quiboloy church facing probe for allegations of human trafficking

The church of Filipino televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, is under investigation for alleged human trafficking.

Hawaii News Now reported that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating complaints that church members were being flown into Hawaii to sell food as part of the Kingdom's aggressive fundraising activities.

A witness and alleged victim of the church said members who had failed to sell enough goods were punished. Punishments included, but were not limited to, physical violence and hair shaving.

Sexual harassment charges were also leveled against the Kingdom's business manager Felina Salinas, who was arrested in February for allegedly attempting to smuggle $350,000 in cash out of the US.

Interviewed later in the afternoon, Quiboloy's lawyer, Israelito Torreon, denied that the church is under investigation.

"I did not receive any notice of any investigation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation," he told GMA News Online.

"If you would note, the jet of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy was already released by authorities to him through me, and while I was there, there was no information whatsoever that the Kingdom is under investigation."

In February, Torreon denied news reports that Quiboloy was arrested and detained in Hawaii and said that the confiscated cash —which he did not confirm to be the reported $350,000 —belonged to Salinas.

Also, Torreon did not identify Salinas as a church member.

Quiboloy was a close friend of President Rodrigo Duterte, but their relationship had soured over the religious leader's disappointment with the former Davao City mayor.  

In response, Duterte said that he chose country over friendship. —Rie Takumi/LBG/RSJ/KBK, GMA News