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Sam Beltran

The presence of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s youngest son at the opening of detained televangelist Apollo Quiboloy’s 75,000-seat Kingdome stadium this week offered a striking display of how ties between the Duterte family and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) have endured despite the criminal cases surrounding its founder.
Observers say the lavish inauguration, attended by an estimated 80,000 people alongside Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, proved the organisation’s ability to maintain its political and institutional influence, even with its founder behind bars.
The event on Tuesday also featured an official city council tribute to Quiboloy and his church.

Quiboloy, who denies all allegations against him, remains in custody in the Philippines on charges of human trafficking and sexual abuse. Authorities are also reviewing a formal US request for his extradition.
Touted by local officials as a new architectural landmark, the Kingdome is now the world’s largest indoor arena, surpassing the 55,000-capacity Philippine Arena owned by another megachurch, the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ), in Bulacan province north of Manila.
The venue, where construction began in 2012, sits on the sprawling 30-hectare (2.15 million sq ft) KJC compound in Davao City. The site was the location of a 16-day police operation before the self-appointed “Son of God” pastor surrendered in September 2024. His legal counsel later called the surrender an “ultimate sacrifice” to avoid further “lawless violence” in the compound.

Quiboloy and eight associates were indicted by a US federal grand jury in 2021. He is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling. He is also accused of running a labour-trafficking scheme that forced church members on fraudulent visas to solicit donations for a non-existent charity.
Former church members have given evidence of alleged sexual abuse and exploitation at Philippine Senate hearings.
Quiboloy is currently being held at Pasig City Jail facing non-bailable charges of qualified human trafficking, child abuse and sexual abuse. As of Thursday, the Philippine Justice Department was evaluating the US extradition request and had not set a deadline for filing an extradition petition in court.
Arjan Aguirre, an assistant professor of political science at Ateneo de Manila University, told This Week in Asia that the KJC’s enduring clout showed how the megachurch’s influence had morphed beyond its pastor’s physical presence.
It had become a “multifaceted organisation with the capacity to exert influence across political, economic, educational and media institutions”, Aguirre said, adding that Quiboloy’s status “is embedded in the organisation’s resources, institutions and relationships, which can continue to operate and mobilise support even when he is behind bars”.
Quiboloy founded the KJC in 1985 in Davao City. While the church claims over 7 million members, authorities dispute that figure.


A network of entities remains tied to Quiboloy and the church, most prominently Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI). Other assets include the Jose Maria College Foundation, construction firm ACQ Solomonic Builders and foundations such as the Sonshine Philippines Movement and Children’s Joy Foundation, which Senate witnesses alleged were involved in moneymaking schemes.
“What this tells us is that Quiboloy’s power has become institutionalised: KJC is no longer simply an extension of one religious leader, but a network of institutions capable of sustaining his influence and political connections even in his absence,” Aguirre said.
Sebastian Duterte’s attendance at the opening of the Kingdome highlighted the decades-long alliance between his family and the evangelist. Quiboloy has long been a close friend of Sebastian’s father, who previously called the pastor his “spiritual adviser”.
Months before the police raid, Quiboloy appointed former president Duterte as an administrator of KJC assets, pointing to what lawmakers called “intertwined interests”. In February, a Makati court issued an asset-preservation order covering 12 bank accounts, 37 properties and 25 vehicles registered under Quiboloy’s name and that of the church’s executive pastor.

Before winning the presidency in 2016, Rodrigo Duterte acknowledged receiving lavish gifts from Quiboloy, including real estate and flights on his private jet.
“The Dutertes’ and Quiboloy’s spheres of influence are closely entwined, particularly in Davao City,” Aguirre said. “Their relationship is best understood as a mutually reinforcing political and organisational alliance: the Dutertes provide access to political power and government resources, while Quiboloy provides a network of followers that can be mobilised for political support.”
Undiminished influence
Gino Trinidad, a political-science instructor at Ateneo de Manila University who studies state-church relations, said that “SMNI played a considerable role in legitimising the Duterte administration through its content and reportage”.
The alliance was tested after the end of Duterte’s presidency and the subsequent falling-out between the Marcos and Duterte families. Government investigations into SMNI soon followed, leading to the network’s suspension shortly before Quiboloy’s arrest.
Yet the crackdown has done little to erode the KJC founder’s standing among followers.
“Quiboloy’s arrest and eventual imprisonment did not diminish his legitimacy to the believers of his church. It might have actually added to his influence,” Trinidad said.
“Members firmly believe his arrest was an injustice, and now that he is in prison, they have to show their utmost support and reverence to him.”


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The Philippines

Philippines’ Duterte-Quiboloy ties on show at world’s largest arena launch

Apollo Quiboloy takes his oath as he attends a hearing at the Philippine Senate in October 2024, in Manila, Philippines. Photo: AP

The 75,000-seater Kingdome stadium in Davao City was formally opened on Tuesday. Photo: Philippine Information Agency

Filipino televangelist Apollo Quiboloy (centre) arrives at a courthouse in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines, in September 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte takes oath during a senate inquiry on the so-called war on drugs during his administration at the Philippine Senate, in October 2024, in Manila, Philippines. Photo: AP

Why US extradition request for Quiboloy puts Philippines in a tough spot

A heavily masked Apollo Quiboloy (centre) is escorted to a press conference in Quezon City on September 9, last year. Photo: AP

Apollo Quiboloy takes the oath during a Senate investigation in Manila on October 23, last year. Photo: EPA-EFE

FBI agents cover a fence on the grounds of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles on January 29, 2020. Photo: AP

Anti-riot police block Apollo Quiboloy’s supporters protesting outside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City on August 26, last year. Photo: EPA-EFE

‘Aimed to acquire 1,000 women’: Philippine police reveal new evidence of abuse by Quiboloy

Filipino televangelist Apollo Quiboloy takes the oath during a Senate investigation in Manila on October 23. Photo: EPA-EFE

Anti-riot police block supporters of Quiboloy as they stage a protest rally outside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City on August 26. Photo: EPA-EFE

Supporters of Quiboloy hold a prayer rally at a park in Manila on March 4. Photo: AFP

‘Point of grievance’: Philippines urged to rethink school safety approach

Philippine police (right) observe as students take safety positions with a teacher after barricading their classroom during a school safety drill in times of active attacks of violence, at a high school campus in Quezon City on Thursday. Photo: EPA

A police officer talks about safety procedures during a school safety drill in times of active attacks of violence, at a high school campus in Quezon City, the Philippines, on Thursday. Photo: EPA

Thai police officers provide security as students arrive for a security check following a mass shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province, Thailand, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA

A police officer escorts students from their classrooms at the conclusion of an active-shooter drill at a high school in Bulacan, the Philippines, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Emergency responders simulate providing aid to an injured faculty member during an active-shooter drill at a high school in Bulacan, the Philippines, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

In flood-hit Philippines, ‘out of touch’ Marcos slammed for private birthday serenade

People wade through a flooded street after heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon in Pampanga, the Philippines, on Monday. Photo: AFP

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr singing a song to his wife at her birthday party on August 26. Photo: Facebook / Bonito Singson

A woman carrying a cat wades through a flooded street after heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon in Pampanga on Monday. Photo: AFP

A woman rides a small boat to cross floodwaters caused by intense monsoon rains in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on August 19. Photo: AP

Residents push a tricycle along a flooded street due to heavy monsoon rains at Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines, on August 17. Photo: AP

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Though in custody on sex charges, Apollo Quiboloy still drew 80,000 followers and Duterte backing for his 75,000-seat Kingdome launch


Though in custody on sex charges, Apollo Quiboloy still drew 80,000 followers and Duterte backing for his 75,000-seat Kingdome launch.


Philippines’ Duterte-Quiboloy ties on show at world’s largest arena launch

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Though in custody on sex charges, Apollo Quiboloy still drew 80,000 followers and Duterte backing for his 75,000-seat Kingdome launch

Though in custody on sex charges, Apollo Quiboloy still drew 80,000 followers and Duterte backing for his 75,000-seat Kingdome launch