Wanted pastor Apollo Quiboloy ARRESTED on sex trafficking charges after 2-week manhunt with 2,000 cops deployed to lair
THE self-proclaimed "Owner of the Universe" has been arrested after a two-week manhunt over allegations of sexual abuse and human trafficking.
Celebrity Filipino pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who also calls himself "appointed son of God", denies the allegations.
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr said: "Apollo Quiboloy has been caught."
He is also on the FBI's most wanted list with US authorities hunting him over allegations of sex trafficking and cash smuggling.
Cops in late August reportedly discovered a secret door inside Quiboloy's underground lair.
More than 2,000 cops were deployed to probe the sprawling den after suspicions he was hiding there in a bunker.
There were fears he may have fled his hideout through a secret underground tunnel.
Filipino authorities on Sunday didn't provide detail on how or where he was caught.
He has been in a Filipino court.
Quiboloy, 74, is the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, which has millions of followers.
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The US Justice Department charged him with sex trafficking back in 2021.
He is said to have employed girls and women aged 12 to 25 to work as personal assistants - but they were allegedly required to have sex with him.
Regional police chief Nicholas Torre, who led the manhunt from the cops' headquarters in Davao, confirmed the arrest.
He said: "This is a concerted effort of everyone involved.
"Let's be proud. We did our job today."
Fierce supporters of Quiboloy had tried to block cops from entering his compound in August.
Protests erupted with yelling, fires and even claims the loyal fans hurled rocks at police.
Davao police spokesperson Major Catherina dela Rey said cops had to use teargas to quell the angry mob after they became "unruly and violent".
Police said they wouldn't leave until they'd captured the preacher.
They had to call in the army for back-up as clashes with the human ring of protection lasted several days.
Quiboloy's compound was a 75-acre complex including some 40 buildings.
Cops had they had sensed heartbeats underground using radar technology.
They said as many as 30 different signals were recorded 100ft below ground, where he was suspected to have burrowed himself.
Footage of the compound released by the Philippine National Police showed rows of beds surrounded by concrete walls.
Authorities tried to raid the complex in June but were blocked by his devoted fans.
He's a longtime pal of former Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte, who he worked for as a spiritual adviser.
Quiboloy said back in April: "I am not hiding from the charges because I am guilty. That's not true. I am just protecting myself."
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He had also said things "got complicated" when Ferdinand Marcos Jr became president in 2022.
He's claimed Marcos' government was conspiring to "hand me over to the Americans".
Who is Apollo Quiboloy?
APOLLO Quiboloy is a preacher in the Philippines who is known for his Kingdom of Jesus Christ cult group.
The spiritual leader has claimed in the past that he is the "son of God".
He sensationally managed to convince his diehard fans that in 1973 he was approached by God who whispered to him “I will use you”.
In 2019, he even declared that his powers helped to stop a major earthquake from hitting southern Philippines.
Many residents believed his words and were taken under Quiboloy's wing.
But in 2021, the US Department of Justice charged him with sex trafficking of children, fraud and coercion and bulk cash smuggling.
Years of investigations left him accused of trafficking his followers to the US to gain donations for his hoax charities.
Authorities also say he has allegedly ordered his female and underage followers to have sex with him by citing it as part of their religious duties.
The FBI released a wanted poster for Quiboloy in 2022.
In the Philippines, he has also been charged with human trafficking and sexual harassment relating to the alleged abuse of a teenager in 2011.
Quiboloy said the "devil" was responsible for the allegations against him.
He blamed the FBI of trying to "meddle" with his case.
The preacher shot to fame in the Philippines when he started to work for former President Rodrigo Duterte as his spiritual adviser.
After Duterte stepped down in 2022, Quiboloy continued to gain followers to his Christian cult.
He now claims to preach to over seven million people.
