Quiboloy denies existence of 'angels of death' private army

Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy on Wednesday refuted allegations that he has a private army called “angels of death.”

Testifying before a Senate committee investigating his and his group's alleged abuses, Quiboloy dared his accusers to file a case against him.

“‘Yan po ay kasinungalingan at kung ‘yan ay akusasyon, hinihiling ko ang accuser na mag-file siya ng kaso laban sa akin,” Quiboloy told Senator Risa Hontiveros, who asked him about the existence of such a private army. 

(That is a lie and if that’s an accusation, I’m asking the accuser to file a case against me.) 

Pressed about what the “angels of death” is, Quiboloy answered: “Imbento po nila ‘yan eh (that’s something they just made up).”

During the same hearing, being conducted by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, Eduard Ablaza Masayon, a former member of the 2nd Signal Battalion, said the group kills people under Quiboloy’s orders to show their “loyalty” to him. 

“‘Yung angel of death kasi, ‘yung mga pumapatay po, lalo na sa mga kasamahan ko na mga worker na napatay na, bale… for example ako po, kapag nakitaan ako ng loyalty, talagang gusto kong ipakita ‘yung faithfulness ko sa ministry, sa anak ng Diyos, maaari kong gawin ‘yun (pumatay),” Masayon said. 

(The angels of death kill people, especially our members. For example, if I really want to show my loyalty and faithfulness to the ministry and the Son of God, then I would have to kill people.) 

“‘Yung angel of death nabuo ‘yun do’n sa mga against sa kaniya… Papatayin ‘yung mga pamilya nila, ‘pag lumabas, ‘pag marami silang alam. ‘Pag lumabas sila… Hindi na sila maaaring lumabas sa ministry, sa poder niya. ‘Yung maraming alam po, lalo na sa pastoral,” he added. 

(The angel of death was formed to target those who are against Quiboloy. They will kill the family of those who leave the ministry. Members can no longer leave the ministry and Quiboloy’s side, especially those in the pastoral who know a lot of things.) 

Philippine Army deputy spokesperson Colonel Rey Balido earlier said that Sonshine Media Network (SMNI), KOJC's media and broadcasting arm, was accredited as an affiliated reserve unit of the Philippine Army in 2015 and assigned the unit designation of 2nd Signal Battalion.

The angels of death, meanwhile, were mentioned by Quiboloy's alleged rape victims who came forward to the police.

Asked if Quiboloy was the one who ordered the killings of former KOJC members, Masayon answered in the affirmative.

“Hindi naman namin gagawin ‘yun kung hindi iniutos mula sa taas. Sino ba kami? Magagalit lang kami sa isang worker, sa isang tao na against sa ministry na lumabas, galit lang. Pero kapag iniutos niya na gawin namin ‘yan, gagawin talaga namin yun,” he said. 

(We wouldn't do that if we weren't ordered by the head. We can only be angry with a worker, with a person who is against the ministry who left, but it’s just that. But when he orders us to do the killings, we will do it.) 

Masayon, who said has been working for Quiboloy since he was 15 years old, explained that they were not allowed to help or give food to those who were abused because they will get implicated. 

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. —KBK, GMA Integrated News