The self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God,” Apollo Quiboloy, who founded a church in the Philippines called the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, has been charged with a criminal offence.

Revered by his followers as a divine figure capable of supernatural feats, Quiboloy wields influence beyond the pulpit and into the highest levels of politics, with presidential candidates seeking his blessing.

His image as a spiritual leader, reinforced by sermons widely broadcast through his media network, has drawn scrutiny amid accusations of sex trafficking, including exploiting underage girls, coercion and fraud.

Quiboloy, 74, has denied any wrongdoing.

However, he figures on the “most wanted” list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States, where he was charged with running a sex-trafficking operation that threatened young victims with “eternal damnation” and physical abuse, among other crimes.

He faces similar criminal cases in the Philippines, where he was arrested on Sunday, after a weeks-long search of his church’s sprawling 30-hectare (74-acre) compound in the southern city of Davao by more than 2,000 police officers.

Israelito Torreon, the cleric’s lawyer on Monday said Quiboloy made “the ultimate sacrifice” by surrendering to police, to spare his followers violence, Reuters could not immediately reach him for comment.

Philippine President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, told reporters after the arrest that “Quiboloy said his followers were willing to die for him, he did not want that to happen, so to his credit, he was still displaying a modicum of leadership.’’

The president who had sought Quiboloy’s endorsement in the 2022 presidential elections added that the preacher would not receive any special treatment.

Quiboloy, who claims to have six million followers in about 200 countries, rose to prominence by making bold declarations of divinity, including claims that he stopped a major earthquake from hitting the southern Philippines in 2019.

On his website, Quiboloy claimed to have heard God’s voice telling him, “I will use you” while attending a spiritual event in South Korea in 1973.

Twelve years later, he set up KOJC in Davao, along with a mountain park called the ‘Garden of Eden Restored’ that featured manicured landscapes, and a wide array of plants and colourful flowers.

It is not uncommon for charismatic preachers to be deeply revered in the Philippines, because of the Southeast Asian nation’s strong religious culture and the devout nature of its 110 million people, who are predominantly Catholic.

This has made figures such as Quiboloy, and other religious groups, influential in the political sphere. (Reuters/NAN).