Ex-KOJC member reveals P15M quota for Christmas caroling

A former Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) member recalled on Wednesday how she had to exploit children in order to reach a P15 million quota for Christmas. 

Testifying before the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, Teresita Valdehueza said that caroling every December became one of the sources of KOJC’s fund and that all members had to participate. 

“Naghirap ang maraming workers at members sa pag-caroling at pag-solicit sa bawat tao sa lahat ng dako dito sa ating bansa. May namatay, may naaksidente, may nakulong, may mga na-rape pa na hindi na nai-report dahil baka hindi paniwalaan,” Valdehueza said.

(Many workers and members struggled in caroling and soliciting across the country. There were those who died, who had an accident, who was imprisoned, and there were even those who were raped but no longer reported because they might not be believed.) 

“Meron din po akong quota na [I also have a quota of] P10 to P15 million to raise in the month of December alone. I organized the nationwide caroling to meet my quota. We recruited and trafficked our young people from Mindanao and Visayas to carol in the provinces of Luzon and in the National Capital Region cities,” she added. 

In order to raise funds for Christmas, Valdehueza said that many students had to be absent in schools as early as November to prioritize the needs of the church. 

She said none of the members dared to question where the money went. 

Valdehueza made the accusations in the presence of KOJC founder Apollo Quiboloy who was there during the Senate probe. 

During the probe, Quiboloy denied that the allegations against him.

“Wala po kaming mga polisya na magpalimos ang bata,” he said. 

(We don't have policies on having children to beg for money.)

“Hindi po. Wala pong katotohanan ‘yun [no, there is no truth to that],” he added when asked by panel chair Senator Risa Hontiveros if he still ordered children to beg for money even if there is no such policy. 

'Love offerings'

After the December season, Valdehueza also said that members even had to sell rice delicacies to offer pledges for Alay kay Kristo, building funds, love offerings, television pledges, tithes, and others.

And from February to October, she said other workers in the logistics department had to solicit again through the ministry’s associations.

“The supposed income na dapat ibigay sa mga beneficiaries sa mga nasabing associations hindi naman talaga truthfully and honestly naibigay [that should be given to the beneficiaries of the associations weren’t really given]. Only a little portion of the income was shared to the beneficiaries,” Valdehueza said.

“Ang ibang workers naman walang hinto sa pagtinda rin ng mga kakanin na may quota of P500-P1000 a day Monday to Saturday,” she continued. 

(Other workers did not stop selling food as they had a quota of P500-P1000 a day from Mondays to Saturdays.) 

Quiboloy is currently 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.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News