Apollo Quiboloy
A spokesperson for the Davao City-based televangelist Apollo Quiboloy on Tuesday said he was shocked to learn that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was investigating the pastor鈥檚 religious group for possible human trafficking in Hawaii.
Lawyer Israelito Torreon was reacting to a report on Thursday by Hawaii 黑料社 Now that an FBI agent who was investigating alleged aggressive fundraising by the Honolulu chapter of Quiboloy鈥檚 religious group 鈥� the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) 鈥� was also looking into the trafficking angle.
Torreon said the report was 鈥渘ot only surprising but shocking.鈥�
鈥淚 just came from Hawaii and I was not told the FBI was investigating the KJC for human trafficking,鈥� Torreon told the Inquirer by phone.
Focus on Salinas
鈥淭he Kingdom of Jesus Christ is not a human trafficking organization. It does not engage and is not guilty of such,鈥� he said, adding that the group鈥檚 American lawyers would clarify the matter with the FBI.
鈥淎s a religious organization, members are accepted based on their free will. There is no compulsion,鈥� he said.
The Hawaii 黑料社 Now report said the FBI investigation was focused on Felina Salinas, the business manager of the local chapter of Quiboloy鈥檚 group in Honolulu.
Salinas, a US citizen, was arrested in February for allegedly trying to smuggle $350,000 out of Hawaii on the same private jet that was to have flown Quiboloy and several other Filipinos back to the Philippines.
Officers inspecting the plane found US$335,000 and A$9,000 hidden in socks in her carry-on bag, according to US prosecutors. US law requires American travelers to declare currency over $10,000. She declared only $40,000.
Quiboloy, a friend of President Rodrigo Duterte who backed his election campaign, had to take a commercial flight back to the Philippines. US authorities released his plane later in the month.
Salinas was accused of bulk cash smuggling, which carries a five-year prison term and forfeiture of the cash and property. She was released on a $25,000 bond.
After Salinas鈥� arrest, an agent from the FBI鈥檚 Los Angeles office pursued the trafficking angle, Hawaii 黑料社 Now reported, citing unidentified sources.
The report said Salinas was also arrested in 2015 for allegedly assaulting a fellow sectarian, who claimed she was forced to raise money, which, experts said, raised the human trafficking angle. Salinas鈥� lawyer said the allegations had no merit.
鈥淭he next morning when she (Salinas) appeared in front of the judge, the state dismissed the charges as though they never should have been filed in the first place,鈥� said lawyer Michael Green.
Kristina Angeles
Hawaii 黑料社 Now said it had obtained documents on Salinas鈥� 2015 arrest that said the alleged victim and former sect member, Kristina Angeles, came to Hawaii in October 2014 on a religious worker visa.
Just days after she arrived, Angeles said she was put to work to help raise funds for the group by selling 鈥渕anapua and Krispy Kreme鈥� donuts, 鈥渞ain or shine.鈥�
Some people who travel to the United States on a religious worker鈥檚 visa have been trapped in similar situations before, the report said.
Experts said Angeles鈥� allegations raised questions whether human trafficking was involved.
鈥淚t did indicate some of the classic signs of human trafficking. And people who have come under religious worker visas before have sometimes been connected with human trafficking,鈥� said Hawaii attorney Clare Hanusz.
Consumers have accused the religious group鈥檚 charity, Children鈥檚 Joy Foundation, of aggressive fundraising and even misrepresentation, the report said.
Statement to police
In her statement to the police, Angeles said members were punished if they didn鈥檛 sell enough.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been slapped or yelled at. The last time, I 鈥� received punches over my arms and legs,鈥� she said.
When Angeles ran away in 2015, the group initially reported her missing. Then a 15-year-old female member later filed charges of sexual assault against her that her lawyer called retaliation, the report said.
Hanusz said traffickers often retaliate against victims by filing questionable criminal charges.
鈥淭his is often done in trafficking. They use threats of deportation and calling law enforcement and making things up,鈥� she said. 鈥�With a report from Allan Nawal