MANILA, Philippines – Doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy and several of his associates fromthe Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) are now under intense scrutiny, with no less than the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) running after them.

Quiboloy has been on the FBI’s most wanted list since early 2022 for sex trafficking of children and promotional money laundering, among others. According to the US law enforcement agency, the pastor also forced members to “solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyle of its leaders.”

What is this lavish lifestyle? A Rappler investigation found three properties in the US and Canada estimated to be worth $6.10 million (P338 million), linked to Quiboloy and the KOJC. These are in addition to properties in Davao City. 

Aside from being a constant in the life of President Rodrigo Duterte during his stint as Davao City mayor, what else is there to know about Quiboloy?

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Inside Apollo Quiboloy’s lavish world: Mansions, rich-and-famous lifestyle in North America

‘Appointed Son of God’

Born on April 25, 1950, in Davao City, Quiboloy said he was born on “the prayer mountain” to Kapampangan parents who went to Mindanao after World War II to find better jobs. After spending his formative years in Pampanga, his family went back to Mindanao, where he finished high school. 

After graduating from “Bible College” in the early 1970s, Quiboloy spent 4 years with the United Pentecostal Church, where he did evangelistic work.

In 1985, Quiboloy founded the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name. With only 15 members, he began preaching in Agdao, Davao City. The sect now claims to have 4 million followers across the country and another 2 million overseas. 

As the “Appointed Son of God,” Quiboloy now serves as a senior pastor of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. He also oversees the operation of Sonshine Media Network International – the broadcasting network he launched in 1989 – and a string of radio stations, newspapers, and magazines.

Landgrabber?

A sprawling 8-hectare compound houses the headquarters of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Quiboloy’s mansion, and the Jose Maria College, a school he founded and named after his parents.  

The compound’s structures were the “brainchild” of Quiboloy himself, according to the group’s website. It added that “piped-in centralized music is played all over the place, 24 hours a day.”

The pastor has been accused of landgrabbing – mostly from indigenous peoples – as a bid to expand his compound in Davao City.

In 2008, the New People’s Army (NPA) accused Quiboloy of killing K’lata-Bagobos leader Datu Domingo Diarog and his family after they refused to sell their land to the pastor. Quibology slammed the accusations as “baseless.”

In 2014, a Lumad group from Barangay Manuel Guianga decried the forceful entry of at least 40 armed men, who ordered them to leave their homes. The men allegedly were hired by Quiboloy so that he could extend his “kingdom.” 

Duterte’s friend, then critic

The extravagant lifestyle of Quiboloy is in contrast with the “simple” life Duterte allegedly lives. The pastor owns, among others, a 2015 Cessna Citation Sovereign Plus and a Bell 429 helicopter, which the President has refused to use.

Duterte previously admitted receiving valuable gifts from Quiboloy throughout the course of their “30-year” friendship. Among those were 3 properties in Woodridge Park, Ma-a, Davao City. 

A constant presence in Duterte’s life as Davao City mayor, Quiboloy slowly faded away when the strongman was elected president.

In fact, in May 2016, the camp of Quiboloy expressed disappointment over Duterte’s rejection of his offer to help in the selection of his Cabinet appointees despite saying that he would not interfere in matters of national interest. This came after Quiboloy predicted a landslide victory for Duterte, whom he referred to as a “sheep in wolf’s clothing.” 

The Duterte camp was quick to apologize to Quiboloy.

Must Read

PRIMER: Investigations, cases against Apollo Quiboloy

Among FBI’s most wanted 

Quiboloy and two of his associates, Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag, are part of the FBI’s most wanted list. The bureau said Quiboloy’s followers were also forced into sham marriages or asked to obtain fraudulent visas to continue soliciting donations for the church.

He is also accused of treating his “pastorals” as servers, requiring them to have sex with him, among others. This practice is allegedly referred to as “night duty.”

Several former KOJC members have come forward to share their experiences.

A Senate committee has cited him in contempt and has sought his arrest after failing to attend hearings. This move was unsuccessfully blocked by Senator Robin Padilla. On March 13, the Senate panel led by Senator Risa Hontiveros gave Quiboloy 48 hours to explain why he should not be arrested. – Rappler.com

Motorists passing through the roads listed below may experience heavier traffic from 9 pm – 4 am on March 15 and 16, and March 16 and 17:

• Port / R-10 (9:00 pm – 9:30 pm)
• C3 Road (9:30 pm – 10:30 pm)
• 5th Avenue (10:30 pm – 12:00 am)
• G. Araneta Avenue (12:00 am – 1:30 am)
• E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue (1:30 am – 2:00 am)
• Gilmore Avenue (2:00 am – 3:00 am)
• Col. Bonny Serrano Avenue (3:00 am – 4:00 am)

The DOTr advised motorists to take alternate routes.

During this time, a tunnel boring machine will be transported to the site of the Camp Aguinaldo Station. The machine will be used to excavate the tunnel connecting the Metro Manila Subway’s Camp Aguinaldo Station and Ortigas Station. (READ: MAP: Metro Manila Subway stations)

A few weeks earlier, the DOTr also transported another tunnel boring machine, which will be used to construct the tunnels of the Metro Manila Subway’s Ortigas Avenue Station, Shaw Boulevard Station, and Kalayaan Avenue Station.

Once completed, the country’s first underground railway system will stretch from East Valenzuela to Bicutan, with a spur line to NAIA Terminal 3. Full operations for the subway is targeted for 2029. – Rappler.com

Must Watch

WATCH: What’s the progress on the Metro Manila Subway?

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The video containing the claim was posted on March 6 by a YouTube channel with 172,000 subscribers. As of writing, it has 38,547 views, 1,000 likes, and 419 comments. 

The thumbnail and title of the video bear the claim: “Kakapasok lang! 12k ayuda buwanan na ang payout para sa mga senior citizen, sa wakas sasaya na kayo” (Just in! 12k monthly payouts for senior citizens, you will finally be happy).

The facts: In a public advisory on March 10, the DSWD clarified that it has no program offering P12,000 aid to senior citizens as claimed in the video. Furthermore, only indigent senior citizens can receive a monthly social pension based on Republic Act 11916, or the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Act. Contrary to the claim, however, they will receive P1,000 monthly, not P12,000.

The video featured audio from an interview with Senator Imee Marcos on Vanguard Radio Network’s Balita Alas Sieto program. While Marcos talked about the social pension, there was no mention of a P12,000 monthly pension for all senior citizens.

Pension for indigent seniors:  Republic Act 11916 doubles the monthly social pension for indigent seniors from P500 to P1,000 to support their daily needs and medical expenses. While it lapsed into law in 2022, its implementation began in 2024, with the Caraga Region beginning the payouts in January.

The DSWD has an allocation of P49.81 billion in the 2024 national budget to support over four million indigent senior citizens nationwide with a doubled pension.

DSWD support: The DSWD said it provides additional support to elderly individuals struggling with daily expenses through its existing program Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS). The program aims to help meet the needs of individuals or families experiencing crisis by providing support to cover transportation, funeral, medical, food, and education expenses, among others.

Individuals seeking cash assistance and other forms of aid are required to submit necessary documents directly to the nearest DSWD office. AICS does not provide an online application form. The amount of assistance granted to individuals varies and is determined through a screening process conducted by social workers.

Official news: For official updates on the social pension for indigent senior citizens and DSWD programs and services, refer to the official DSWD website and its social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. – Chinie Ann Jocel R. Mendoza/Rappler.com

Chinie Ann Jocel R. Mendoza is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

Duterte graced the prayer rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio on Tuesday, March 12, and which was organized by supporters of Kingdom of Jesus preacher Apollo Quiboloy. The pastor has been the subject of Congress’ marathon hearings over his alleged human rights abuses.

He is facing a contempt order before the Senate and the House for snubbing inquiries of both chambers.

Duterte, who is the designated caretaker of the country while Marcos is in Europe, took photos with supporters of Quiboloy as they flashed placards bearing the message, “Protect VP Inday Sara.”

At the stage, former Biliran representative and poll fraud accuser Glenn Chong was speaking before the crowd about Marcos’ ouster drawing cheers from Duterte supporters.

“Kahit wala pang resignation si Marcos Jr. (Even though Marcos Jr. hasn’t resigned yet) Sara is [the] rightful and legitimate leader of this country, and not Marcos, never Marcos,” he declared.

Chong even went on to say that Marcos should not come back to the Philippines after his Europe trip. “Huwag na natin palandingin si Marcos…. Bumalik na lang siya sa Hawaii para sa Hawaii part 2,” he said.

(Let’s not allow Marcos’ plane to land. He should go back to Hawaii for a Hawaii part 2.)

ALSO ON RAPPLER

• Inside Apollo Quiboloy’s lavish world: Mansions, rich-and-famous lifestyle in North America
• Duterte becomes Quiboloy group’s property administrator
• As Quiboloy hides, US government moves on arrest warrant
• PRIMER: Investigations, cases against Apollo Quiboloy

The Vice President didn’t speak before the crowd even as organizers invited her to come up the stage. Her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, also attended the prayer rally.

On Monday, March 11, Duterte also released a statement defending the Davao-based preacher. She said that Quiboloy was being treated unfairly.

“Sa mga ginagawang pagdinig ay tila pinatawan na ng guilty verdict si Pastor Quiboloy kahit na nakabatay lamang ang pagdinig na ito sa mga paratang ng mga testigo na nagkukubli ng kanilang katauhan at hindi mapatunayan ang kredibilidad,” she said.

(In the hearings conducted, it seems that Pastor Quiboloy was already handed a guilty verdict even though the inquiries were based only on allegations made by witnesses who conceal their true character and couldn’t prove their credibility.)

In February, the Vice President did not directly address allegations that she and her father had left Quiboloy’s vast property in Davao City with bags of assorted firearms. She dismissed this as just another attack against her by those with presidential ambitions.

In January, the Vice President also graced a prayer rally against charter change in Davao City where her family members took turns lambasting the President. – Rappler.com

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri himself considered it a “big challenge.” In the Senate, 18 votes are needed to pass Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 “proposing amendments to certain economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution,” which he co-authored with senators Loren Legarda and Sonny Angara.

Majority vote is needed for the bill to be submitted to a bicameral conference committee before it gets voted on in a plebiscite.

“It’s a challenge, it’s a big challenge because I think the rift between our friends at the House and our friends here at the Senate is a factor because this resulted in trust issues,” Zubiri told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino.

The Senate President is referring to the rift between the two chambers in relation to the push to amend the Constitution. The squabble started when senators signed a manifesto rejecting the House’s new push for charter change, which proposes that both chambers vote jointly on proposed amendments.

Senators want separate voting by the chambers to ensure that their voice is not diluted in the process. Zubiri said that the Senate and its 24 members cannot cast any meaningful vote against the 316 members of the House.

University of the Philippines professor and political analyst Ela Atienza said this is the primary reason why the Senate opposes charter change. “The Senate’s reluctance to back Cha-Cha initiatives is more personal because the House leadership tried to undermine the Senate by pushing for a people’s initiative earlier that will diminish the Senate’s power to vote as a separate chamber in case the two Houses vote on proposed amendments as a constituent assembly.”

Senators echo the concern of many that while proposals to amend the Constitution are focused on economic provisions, no one can stop the inclusion of proposed provisions on term limits and other political provisions. They fear that the Senate will be abolished if political amendments, such as a shift to a unicameral parliamentary form of government, will be introduced.

Must Read

Charter change rift deepens between Senate, House

The Senate is currently deliberating on RBH6. Meanwhile, the House already wrapped up its version, RBH7, in just six days. The House version mirrors the Senate’s which allows foreign investments in the country’s public utilities, education, and advertising sectors.

The two differ though in one contentious line that says “each House vote separately” on the amendments.

Play Video

Angara, who chairs the Senate subcommittee on amendments and revision of codes, had said that the upper chamber would likely finish their discussions by October.

The dissenters

Although it’s not up for voting yet, some senators already said that they are voting against RBH6.

At a press conference on Monday, March 11, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said they have a “fighting chance” to gather at least seven votes to “put down” RBH6. She said that she could sense that the no vote on RBH6 would not be limited to the two members of the Senate minority.

“Batay sa sense namin sa minority na hindi lamang kaming dalawa ang magno-no sa Cha-Cha. Kahit ‘yung Resolution of Both Houses 6 dito sa Senado, mula sa halos simula ng pag-uusap namin ni SP, alam na nila na no talaga ang posisyon ko kahit sa sinasabing economic only provisions amendments na nakapaloob sa RBH 6,” she said.

(Our sense in the minority is that we’re not the only ones who will say no to Cha-Cha. Even the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 here at the Senate, ever since the start of our discussions with the Senate President, he knows my “no” position even on the economic only provisions included in the RBH6 is firm.)

In a statement on Monday, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s possible intervention in RBH6 will only “help a little.” He earlier claimed that he and eight other senators were ready to vote against RBH6.

“The credibility of the President among senators has fallen to an all-time low when it comes to the subject matter of charter change. Hence, presidential endorsement may help the proponents of Senate RBH 6 but only a little. Everything that the President says will be taken with ‘a grain of salt,'” he said.

Apart from the two-member minority bloc, Senator Cynthia Villar already expressed her opposition to RBH6, noting that “there was a chance” that seven senators, including herself, would vote “No” on the bill.

“They claim they are only after the economic provisions. But when they open up the Constitution, nobody can stop them from changing other provisions, including the political portions. That’s not good,” she said. Political observers said that Senator Cynthia would likely influence her son, Senator Mark Villar.

Meanwhile, presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos has been very vocal about her dissenting opinion on charter change. She had led a Senate inquiry into alleged bribery in the push to secure signatures to amend the charter through a supposed people’s initiative.

Before the Senate started deliberating on RBH6, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva claimed that “a lot of senators” were not interested in supporting RBH No. 6 filed by Zubiri. He was also among the senators who had traded barbs with House members in relation to charter change via people’s initiative.

Rappler reached out to Villanueva to ask whether his position on the issue has changed or not, but he has yet to reply as of posting.

In February, Senator Nancy Binay said that proposed economic amendments to the charter are “not a magic solution” as she urged her fellow lawmakers and the public to “carefully listen to all perspectives before making any decisions regarding the proposed constitutional amendments.”

“Base sa unang hearing, parang mas marami kaming naging resource persons na mas mabigat ang hindi muna napapanahon ang pagpalit ng ating Konstitusyon,” Binay said.

(Based on our first hearing, it seems that most of our resource persons are strongly against constitutional amendments at this time.)

If all these seven senators vote against RBH6, then the push for charter change will be junked. For Zubiri, forcing senators to vote “yes” to RBH6 will mean losing his Senate leadership.

“Alam mo ‘pag inutusan ko sila gawin ‘yan mawawala talaga ako as Senate president, (You know, if I force them to vote yes to charter change, I really will no longer be Senate president) I will no longer have the trust and confidence of more than 14 senators if I force a vote, force them to vote on the affirmative,” Zubiri said, referring to the 14 senators who signed a manifesto of support for his leadership amid ouster rumors.

‘Senate independence’

Political analyst Cleve Arguelles said that this development from the upper chamber is a manifestation of the “nature of the Senate of being more independent of Malacañang’s wishes than its counterpart in Batasan.”

“Senators, like the President, also enjoy a national constituency, mandate, and support. I think this is very important in their ability to counterbalance the weight of the combined influence of the House and Malacañang,” Arguelles said.

But is it really about the Senate reflecting its independence from the executive branch? Or is it because the senators will be at a disadvantage in case charter change pushes through? Like other elective officials, senators are keenly aware of the consequences of supporting unpopular measures.

“They’re also presidents and vice presidents in waiting whose choices now may influence public support for them in the future,” Arguelles said.

Remember when senators railroaded the passage of Maharlika bill at the pleasure of the President? In May 2023, the Senate swiftly passed Senate Bill No. 2020, or the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund Act of 2023. Their vote came after an 11-hour plenary session that saw senators scrambling to pass the priority legislation of the Marcos administration. Prior to its passage, the President had already boasted about this bill during his trips abroad.

The Senate took a beating from the railroaded passage of the controversial measure. With the 2025 elections just around the corner, and with the 2028 elections not too far away, lawmakers are weighing all decisions that could affect public favor.

A survey conducted by pollster Octa Research in December 2023 and released in January 2024 found that only one in every 100 Filipinos identified charter change as an urgent national concern. The top concern of Filipinos is fighting inflation.

Another factor at play in the charter change discussion is the political influence of popular figures, such as former president Rodrigo Duterte and daughter Vice President Sara Duterte, who are both opposed to charter change. The Duterte family even held a prayer rally against the push to amend the 1987 Constitution under the Marcos administration in Davao City.

Some senators are close allies of the Dutertes, among them, senators Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa, and Francis Tolentino.

But in Philippine politics, the unexpected is a given. With the Senate seen to end deliberations on RBH6 in October, will the proponents get the needed votes? Or will more senators end up voting against charter change? – Rappler.com

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in a YouTube video posted on March 9 that has 38,668 views and 455 likes as of writing.

The video is titled: “Breaking news! China, nagpadala na ng fighter jets sa West PH Sea! Umaatake na! Simula na ang WW3.” (Breaking news! China has deployed fighter jets to the West Philippine Sea! It is now attacking! [World War 3] has started!) 

The claim comes as tensions between Manila and Beijing have been rekindled due to continuing Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

The bottom line: No reputable sources have reported on China’s alleged deployment of fighter jets to the West Philippine Sea. There have been no reports from the Philippine Navy via their official Facebook page, X (formerly Twitter) page, and website, nor from the Department of National Defense about the claim.

Outdated report: The misleading video featured photos of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accompanied by audio from a news report. The report discussed senators’ concerns over an alleged threat of war made by Chinese President Xi Jinping if the Philippines continued to insist on the 2016 arbitral ruling invalidating China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea.

The video made it seem as if the alleged threat was made recently, but a closer listen to the audio shows that it made references to former senator Bam Aquino and former president Rodrigo Duterte. The original audio came from a UNTV news report from May 22, 2017.

Current tensions: The claim was posted amid ongoing tensions between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea. On March 5, four Filipinos onboard the Unaizah Mae 4 sustained “minor injuries” after two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels used water cannons against the Philippine vessel. The water cannons also shattered the boat’s windshield.

In a separate incident, a CCG vessel collided with the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Sindangan during the latest resupply mission to the grounded ship BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippines’ outpost in Ayungin Shoal. 

“Throughout the operation, the PCG vessels faced dangerous maneuvers and blocking from Chinese Coast Guard vessels and Chinese Maritime Militia. Their reckless and illegal actions led to a collision between MRRV-4407 and China Coast Guard 21555 that resulted [in] minor structural damage to the PCG vessel,” PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Chinese jets spotted: In November 2023, two Chinese fighter jets were seen hovering above Philippine planes during a joint air patrol between the Philippines and Australia in the West Philippine Sea. 

Chinese vessels also shadowed Philippine and Australian ships during joint maritime patrols in the area, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. – Katarina Ruflo/Rappler.com

Katarina Ruflo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

Our contact, an official of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), sent us a text message, “Tapat kami Aristocrat (We are in front of Aristocrat),” as he gave us the make and plate number of their vehicle so that we could easily find them.

The men, as we walked to their vehicle, were unloading a tripod and a tool that was to be the star of the evening: a telescope – Astromaster 130EQ of Celestron, which, according to its website, “provides bright, clear images of the Moon, planets, star clusters, and more for great nighttime viewing.”

It was around 4:30 pm, and the “show” was scheduled an hour and a half later. We were about to watch sunset at 6:05 pm – and to check if the new moon could already be sighted.

It was a moonsighting activity mounted by the NCMF in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Sunday, March 10, to determine the start of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. 

From our meeting place at Rajah Sulayman Park, we crossed Roxas Boulevard so that we could station ourselves at the iconic Manila Baywalk, the perfect spot to view the postcard-worthy Manila Bay sunset. 

We joined around two dozen Muslims, including NCMF staff, many of whom – in true Filipino fashion – took photos of themselves peering into the telescope. At one point, sandwiches were distributed to participants. The mood was a mix of curiosity and excitement, although subdued. 

Would they see the moon that evening?

If they spot the moon, then the fasting month of Ramadan would begin the next day, Monday, March 11. If not, then Ramadan would start on Tuesday, March 12. 

Moonsighting is the process by which Muslims determine the date not only of the start of Ramadan, but also their two great feasts: Eid’l Fitr, which is the end of Ramadan, and Eid’l Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice. If you ever wondered why there are no fixed dates (and no fixed holidays) for these observances, the lunar calendar of Islam provides an explanation.

But why the moon? 

What are the roots of moonsighting? How is it conducted? Why is it relevant in the Muslim faith?

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The lunar way

Islam uses a lunar calendar, which is based on phases of the moon, unlike the commonly used solar calendar, which is based on the Earth’s position relative to the Sun.

The Islamic calendar is made up of 12 months, each of which is 29 or 30 days long. Because the number of days in a month vary, the length of the year varies as well – either 354 or 355 days, shorter than the 365 days in the solar calendar.

The name of this Islamic dating system is the Hijri calendar. It begins in the year 622 AD, when the Prophet Muhammad escaped persecution in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to the city of Medina, which is around 338 kilometers away. 

In contrast, the dating system now generally used around the world is called the Gregorian calendar, named after Pope Gregory XIII, who instituted this calendar in 1582 AD. The Gregorian calendar was an improvement of the Julian calendar, which was proposed by, and named after, Julius Caesar in 46 BC. 

Each year in the Gregorian calendar is commonly denoted as “AD” or anno Domini (year of Our Lord), since the counting of years begins with the birth of Christ. (BC means “Before Christ,” referring to the period before the Gregorian calendar started counting years.)

Each year in the Hijri calendar is called “AH” or anno Hegirae in Latin, or “the year of the Hijrah,” since it begins with the Hijrah of the Prophet Muhammad.  

The 12 months of the Hijri calendar are as follows: Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwal, Rabi al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada al-Thani, Rajab, Sha’ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhul al-Qadah, and Dhul Hijjah.

Each of these names has a meaning. 

The first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram, means “forbidden” – a time when all forms of fighting are prohibited. 

The second month, Safar, means “empty” – “because pre-Islamic Arabs used to leave their homes in search of food during this month,” according to the Islamic advocacy website Amaliah. Other sources say that this name “derived from pre-Islamic Arabs conducting raids during this time on houses, leaving them ’empty.’”

Ramadan, according to Amaliah, comes ”from the root word ‘ramad,’ which means ‘burning’ in reference to the scorching heat that characterized this month.” 

The context, of course, was the climate in the Middle East where Islam was born.

‘Practical calendar’ 

In a video by the Al-Rasoul Islamic Society in Canada, Islamic scholar Sayed Mohammed Baqer Al-Qazwini explained the roots of the Islamic lunar calendar.

“One reason why Islam went by the lunar calendar is that, at that time, this was the most practical calendar for the people. Why? Because if you want to go by the solar calendar, you have to have a calendar, you need to know how to read and write, you need to keep track of the days,” said Al-Qazwini.

Many people then, however, “were illiterate” and were “Bedouins living in the desert” who “did not know how to keep track” of dates on pen and paper.

“The other calendar, which is the lunar one, is more practical for most people. Because all you need to do, at the beginning of the month, is see what? See the crescent. Even if you’re not educated, even if you do not know how to read and write, you can get out there in the desert and just see the moon,” the Islamic scholar said.

“So the people who lived at that time, they just look at the moon, they know which night it is,” he said.

The second reason, according to Al-Qazwini, is that the lunar calendar “gives you diversity.” This is because the Islamic observances fall on different parts of the Gregorian calendar each year, given that the Hijri calendar follows its own timeline.

The month of Ramadan, for example, sometimes falls in the summer or in the winter, said Al-Qazwini. “That’s beautiful. That way, you get to fast in all seasons, and you can taste these events and you can experience fasting in all seasons.”

While Ramadan this year began on March 12, in fact, it was not always around this time of the year. Ten years ago, in 2014, it began on June 28. Twenty years ago, in 2004, it began on October 15. 

Viewing the moon ahead of Ramadan, said Islamic scholar, is also being faithful to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

Alzad Sattar, an Islamic Studies professor from the University of the Philippines Diliman, said this was stated in the hadith or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. “The Prophet said, ‘Before you fast in the month of Ramadan, you first have to see the moon,’” Sattar said in a mix of English and Filipino while waiting for the moonsighting activity last Sunday.

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Sattar explained that if the new moon is sighted on the 29th day of the month of Sha’ban, then the month of Ramadan can begin the next day. If not, then Muslims need to complete the 30th day of the month of Sha’ban, which means beginning Ramadan two days later.

Sometimes ‘moonfighting’

But who gets to declare that the moon was sighted? And, of all the Muslim authorities who conduct their moonsighting activities, whom should ordinary Muslims believe?

This is where it gets complicated.

Esmael Abdul, cultural affairs chief of the NCMF in Metro Manila, said any adult who is trusted and credible in the community can conduct moonsighting activities.

Even just one such person who sees the moon is enough, he said. Not even a telescope is required. “Even in the case of the Prophet Muhammad, there were no telescopes during their time,” he explained.

In the Philippines, there are two main authorities when it comes to moonsighting and other Muslim affairs.

The NCMF, created on February 18, 2010, is tasked to advise the Philippine president on Muslim affairs, and to “act as the primary government agency through which Muslim Filipinos could seek government assistance and redress.” The NCMF is led by a secretary appointed by the president.

The other authority when it comes to Muslim affairs is the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta, the Islamic advisory council of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta is led by a mufti, an Islamic legal expert. 

There have been times when the NCMF and BARMM had different findings in their moonsighting activities.

While this can already be confusing, there are also Filipino Muslims who choose to look outside the Philippines – in particular, Saudi Arabia – for their sighting of the new moon. “Their view is that this is because Islam began in Saudi Arabia,” said Sattar.

This is why in Facebook comment sections, it is common to see a few Muslims arguing over which authority to believe when it comes to moonsighting. In one instance, the moon was seen in Saudi Arabia and not in the Philippines, and a believer was insistent that the Saudi declaration carried more weight. An irked Muslim replied on Facebook, “Then go live there.”

“The issue before, as they said, was that instead of moonsighting, it became ‘moonfighting.’ Because there are different views and different approaches,” said Sattar. “So to solve such kind of problem, there should be coordination.”

Abdul of NCMF-NCR said there have been efforts to streamline the results of moonsighting activities across the Philippines.

“This year, I really made a way by which the two offices (NCMF and the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta) can coodinate. Muslims shouldn’t have to choose between the two. All of them have Islamic scholars, so these two offices should really reach an agreement and act as one,” Abdul said.

Within the NCMF alone, officials have been cautious in releasing their new moon findings.

The NCMF is composed of 11 regional offices, and NCMF-NCR is only one of these.

The moonsighting activity at the Manila Baywalk last Sunday was an activity only by NCMF-NCR, and the telescope used was actually personal equipment owned by Abdul because their regional office did not have its own. According to the Celestron website, the telescope is now priced at $349.95 or roughly P19,380.

Two days before the moonsighting activity in Manila, Abdul cautioned our team against reporting the NCMF-NCR findings as the findings of the whole NCMF. We had to wait until the reports from all regional offices were consolidated, he said. Only the NCMF national office can release the conclusive findings.

Tradition and technology

During Sunday’s moonsighting activity, the coordination was immediate – and high-tech.

Shortly after sunset at 6:05 pm, we saw Abdul and his assistant chief Al-Jomer Ali looking at their smartphones, dimly illuminating their faces as the dark of night crept in.

Only three male journalists from the Rappler team, a female journalist for Indonesian TV, and a male photojournalist from a broadsheet were covering the activity for news purposes. There were no other big cameras from mainstream TV news outlets, indicating little interest, even as many Filipino Muslims held on to their seats: Will Ramadan begin on Monday or Tuesday?

“What is that?” we asked Ali, as we turned the sharper light of our camera in their direction. 

Abdul and Ali were apparently on Zoom, where other regional offices gave updates on their own moonsighting activities.

“Soccsksargen, not sighted. Northern Luzon, northern Mindanao, no sighting. What else?” said Ali, as he waited for updates from other regions.

“Before Zoom and Facebook were invented, how was coordination done for moonsighting?” we asked them. Abdul answered, “Phone calls.” 

That night, it was a centuries-old tradition merging with modern technology. “It is faster, it is more accurate, it is something for which Muslim communities can better prepare,” Ali said in Filipino.

Roughly two hours later, at around 8 pm, the NCMF released its announcement: the agency “has determined that no moon was observed tonight by all the NCMF regional and field offices and their moonsighting groups.”

Ramadan, then, would begin on Tuesday instead of Monday.

When asked how he felt that the moon was not sighted, Abdul said the feeling was normal. “It is really like that,” he said. “I have not seen the first moon on the 29th day of Sha’ban.” 

Beyond determining another month in the Islamic lunar calendar, however, Sattar said moonsighting holds religious significance for Muslims like him. 

“We see this as a good deed,” Sattar said – proof that “we are truly following the sunna of the Prophet Muhammad.”

The end of the moonsighting activity was proof of this. 

A few minutes after sunset, Muslims walked to another part of the Manila Baywalk, rolled their prayer mats, faced in the direction of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and knelt with their heads touching the ground in front of Manila Bay.

While the moon was not sighted that evening, their faith as shown through obedience was still on full display.

And their chanting, borne of a faith that spans many centuries, mixed with the sea breeze. – Rappler.com

Confrontations, including one in early March 2024 that caused bodily harm on Navy personnel, are a dangerous part of the routine, as China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia ships try to block and drive away Philippine ships.

The BRP Sierra Madre is a World War II vessel purposefully run aground in 1999, in response to China’s encroachment of nearby Mischief Reef. The ship, in all its rusty glory, remains in service and now serves as a Philippine military outpost.

When confrontations happen – collisions, dangerous maneuvers, water cannoning, among others – Beijing is almost always quick to claim “professional conduct.” Never mind that there are stills and footage of its coast guard using powerful water cannons on often smaller Philippine boats.

In all statements, Beijing decries Manila’s supposed encroachment on their territory (it’s not – Ayungin is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, according to a 2016 Arbitral Ruling) and supposed non-adherence to supposed previous commitments.

It turns out, Beijing had been operating on a different reality – not just on how they see features in the West Philippine Sea, but on the status of relations between the Philippines and China.

It seems Beijing had wanted “some understanding, an acquiescence” in trying to negotiate with Manila, the Manila Times reported, quoting a Chinese official.

According to the report, China wanted the Philippines to “commit not to transport large-scale building materials to reinforce the Sierra Madre,” referring to a World War II ship.

In turn, China would “agree” to let only one vessel through during regular rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte, famous and infamous for promising a “pivot” to China, had supposedly made this “understanding” with China – that the Philippines would not “bring in large-scale building materials to Ayungin Shoal.”

In other words, said the anonymous Chinese official who spoke to the Manila Times, the Duterte administration promised Beijing that they would not be reinforcing the Sierra Madre, where a handful of soldiers are stationed at a time.

DFA fumes

Unsurprisingly, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) fumed on Tuesday, March 12, in reaction to the Manila Times’ story on the Marcos administration’s supposed “inaction” over proposals to “normalize” the situation in the South China Sea.

In the newspaper report, the anonymous Chinese official said 11 concept papers were submitted to the Philippines “but these were met with inaction by the Marcos administration.”

“From the outset, the DFA wishes to underscore that the Philippines is approaching these confidential negotiations with utmost sincerity and good faith. We were, therefore, surprised by China’s disclosure of sensitive details of our bilateral discussions,” said the DFA in a statement.

One proposal, raised by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong back in March 2023, meant “actions that would be deemed as acquiescence or recognition of China’s control and administration over the Ayungin Shoal as China’s territory.”

“As Ayungin Shoal is a part of the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, the proposal of China could not be considered by the Philippines without violating the Philippine Constitution or international law,” added the DFA, noting that this was a proposal China had referred to as a “gentleman’s agreement.”

In a statement, the DFA denied claims that the Philippine government “ignored” China’s many proposals, saying they had “immediately undertaken serious study and consideration of all of them.

Without going into specifics, the DFA said: “While a few proposals were deemed somewhat workable, many of the remaining Chinese proposals were determined, after careful study, scrutiny and deliberation within the Philippine Government, to be contrary to our national interests.”

Still, the Philippines, said the DFA, submitted “counter-proposals.” In turn, China submitted its own counter-proposals, “which again did not reflect our interests, especially on issues such as the South China Sea,” according to the DFA.

At a crossroads

Ties between the Philippines and China have hit a low point, almost two years into the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. China’s foreign minister has said ties are at a “crossroads”

Unlike his predecessor, who apparently made agreements that yielded to China, Marcos has taken a stronger stance against Beijing’s encroachment in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos has brought Manila closer to its treaty-ally the United States, all while forging closer defense ties with countries both near and far: Japan, Australia, the European Union, and Canada, to name a few.

Under what’s been dubbed its “transparency initiative,” the Philippines has made it a point to make public Chinese actions in the West Philippine Sea. The strategy – especially the presence of embedded Philippine and recently Western media – has incensed Beijing to no end.

To be sure, Philippine officials – diplomats, especially – have made sure to keep channels with China open.

Marcos met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a summit in San Francisco, but sources privy to the meeting say there was no reason to be hopeful after the meet.

In January 2024, Philippine diplomats travelled to Shanghai for the 8th Bilateral Consultation Meeting on the South China Sea (BCM).

Both China and the Philippines promised to improve communications – between diplomats and possibly even its coast guards. Yes, in the months and weeks that followed that high-stakes meeting, things have seemingly taken a turn for the worse.

Four Filipinos were injured in the last mission to Ayungin, after two China Coast Guard vessels blasted their water cannons on the Unaizah May 4, a civilian ship contracted by the Philippine Navy.

In another area in the West Philippine Sea, things are not any better: in Scarborough Shoal, China has also been liberal in its use of water cannons. Filipino fishermen are unable to enter the shoal any time they want.

Since Beijing refuses to budge, ignoring the 2016 Arbitral Ruling and insisting on its view of the South China Sea, and its view alone – how far can more talk really go? – Rappler.com

A Rappler investigation discovered three properties estimated to be worth $6.10 million (P338 million)* owned by individuals with close links to Quiboloy and the KOJC. Two of these are in Canada, while one is located in an affluent part of Los Angeles in California, near the homes of several celebrities.

The details are based on official documents obtained by Rappler on Monday, March 11, as well as information from sources privy to KOJC operations.

The discoveries came after former president Rodrigo Duterte was appointed caretaker of the properties belonging to the Quiboloy-led group. Besides the North American properties, there are also several landholdings in the Philippines, as well as an air fleet.

Quiboloy, as described by his mentor, Reverend Gordon Mallory of the United Pentecostal Church, “went from a pauper, a beggar, to a multi-billionaire,” with a “lifestyle of the rich and famous.”

“Money means nothing to him,” Mallory said.

Quiboloy has been in the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most-wanted list since early 2022, for sex trafficking of children and promotional money laundering, among others. An FBI poster says the preacher is also wanted for forcing members to “solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyle of its leaders.”

A Senate committee has cited him in contempt and has sought his arrest so he could testify before the panel which is looking into similar allegations of abuse and exploitation hurled by his former followers.

Quiboloy’s mansions

In a video posted on The Pentecostals of Cebu City Facebook page on January 30, Mallory said Quiboloy owns mansions and estates “all over the world,” confirming the one in California.

Mallory recalled being invited and brought to the California mansion with his wife, and seeing Quiboloy’s vehicles in the garage, which included a “brand new Bentley and a Mercedes.” He said the Filipino preacher also gave him a box that contained cash more than what his family needed to last six months.

“Justin Bieber has a house across the street; the Kardashians have a house down the street; Will Smith lives around the corner,” said Mallory who recalled the time he was invited to Quiboloy’s mansion.

The mansion stands on Simpson Place, a quiet residential neighborhood located in Calabasas, California. Known for its upscale homes, lush landscaping, and privacy afforded its residents, the area offers easy access to amenities and outdoor activities.

Calabasas, located in Los Angeles County, is known for its affluent neighborhoods and celebrity residents. Nestled in the hills west of the San Fernando Valley, it offers a mix of luxury homes, gated communities, and scenic hiking trails. The city also boasts of upscale shopping centers.

The six-bedroom Calabasas property is valued at US$2.573 million (P142.80 million), based on 2023 tax records seen by Rappler. Its land value was estimated to amount to US$1.19 million (P65.91 million) while improvements done to the property were pegged at US$1.39 million (P76.93 million). The owners paid a total of $29,409.94 (P1.63 million) in property taxes for the fiscal year 2023-2024. 

Sold to associates?

The property was built in 1993 but was first bought by the KOJC in 2011 for US$2.1 million (P116.55 million), according to information obtained by Rappler. Since then, its ownership has been transferred four times among three entities – the KOJC, Helen Panilag, and Guia Cabactulan. 

The last documented transaction was in 2018 when Cabactulan appeared to have bought the property from the church for an undisclosed price.

Panilag and Cabactulan are, however, known church associates of Quiboloy, and were among those indicted along with the preacher, by a federal grand jury in a California district court in late 2021. 

Panilag is included in the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) most wanted list, alongside Quiboloy. She has been tagged by the FBI as “the alleged one-time church administrator in the [US] who oversaw the collection of financial data from church operations around the globe.” She has also been wanted for her alleged “participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members” to the US, including fraudulently obtaining visas and forcing members to solicit donations.

Cabactulan, meanwhile, has been described as “the top KOJC official in the United States who maintained direct communication with KOJC leadership in the Philippines.” She was arrested in January 2020 in the US for immigration fraud.

Another KOJC member included in the FBI’s wanted list – Teresita Dandan – was registered as a resident of the Calabasas property since May 2012. Dandan, according to the FBI, served as the alleged “international administrator,” and one of the top overseers of the church and its alleged bogus charity operations in the US. 

Former KOJC workers, who turned against Quiboloy, said the preacher bought the mansion in 2011 and sold it sometime in October 2018, months after authorities held his private plane, where they found a suitcase containing US$350,000 (P19.4 million) in undeclared cash and assorted gun parts, in Hawaii. As it turns out, the buyer in 2018 is also a member of the KOJC.

“I’ve been to that mansion,” Arlene Caminong-Stone, a former KOJC worker based in Minnesota, told Rappler on Sunday, March 11. Stone was one of those who testified online against Quiboloy at the start of the Senate panel hearings in January, narrating details about the alleged abuses by the preacher and providing insights into the inner workings of the KOJC.

Surrey property

According to former KOJC workers, Quiboloy also bought mansions in Canada. One is an over P99-million house in Surrey, and another on Latania Boulevard in Brampton City in Ontario’s Greater Toronto Area.

The seven-bedroom property in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada is about half an hour away from Vancouver. It was first built in 2003, and is just a 15-minute drive from a KOJC church on 13055 Old Yale Road, also in Surrey. 

Based on tax records seen by Rappler, the Surrey property was assessed to be worth CAD$2.42 million (US$1.79 million/P99.5 million) in 2023. Its land value was estimated to be worth CAD$1.68 million (US$1.25 million/P69 million) and improvements done on the property cost CAD$734,000 (US$544,197/P30.17 million). 

The owners paid CAD$7,297.54 (US$5,410/P300,000) in gross taxes for 2023. 

A document obtained by Rappler from the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia shows that the property is owned by another known Quiboloy associate, Mariteo Canada. Her name was cited in an article posted on Quiboloy’s website. She was also tagged as part of Quiboloy’s delegation in an event with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in 2022.

Ontario property

The four-bedroom property in Brampton, Ontario is situated along Latania Boulevard, a half-hour car ride to Toronto. Houses in the area are priced not less than CAD$1 million each, according to real estate websites. 

The alleged Quiboloy-linked property was first listed as being for sale in April 2010 for CAD$699,000 (US$518,243/P27.73 million) and was sold the same year for CAD$658,000 (US$487,826/P27 million). 

The property was last listed as being available in September 2020 for CAD$1.45 million (US$1.74 million/P96.25 million) but with no indication whether it was successfully sold. Taxes paid were estimated to be CAD$7,721 (US$5,723/P317,249). 

According to a property document obtained by Rappler, one of the two listed owners is linked to the KOJC. Her profile on LinkedIn showed that she is an “administrative assistant” of the church. A cursory search of other names included in the document also showed connections to Quiboloy’s group.

The property is half an hour’s drive from the nearest KOJC headquarters.

Notable Davao properties

Quiboloy’s group has been open about many of their properties, especially those in the Philippines.

Among the notable properties owned by the group are well-manicured estates in the village of Tamayong in Calinan District in Davao. Tamayong serves as the KOJC’s headquarters and is where the preacher built his mansion, near the group’s so-called Prayer Mountain.

Aside from the approximately eight-hectare Prayer Mountain, Quiboloy’s group also owns what they refer to as Glory Mountain, roughly a 21-hectare property, in the same village.

According to KOJC workers, Quiboloy has landholdings in Samal Island city, and at Purok 8, Barangay San Miguel in Indangan Buhangin, Davao City, where the preacher set up the main headquarters of the allegedly bogus charity group, the Children’s Joy Foundation.

Quiboloy’s group also owns the Jose Maria College (JMC), and an unfinished multi-billion-peso mixed-use indoor arena, touted to dwarf the close to P9-billion Iglesia ni Cristo Philippine Arena in Bulacan. Located near Davao’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport, the King Dome, according to a November 2019 Sunstar report, was envisioned to be the biggest indoor arena “with a seating capacity of 70,000, bigger than the Philippine Arena, which is currently the world’s largest indoor arena with a maximum seating capacity of 55,000.”

Aircraft fleet

ApolloAir, a Davao-based airline owned by Quiboloy, maintains an aircraft fleet that includes Bell 429 and 505 light helicopters, a Robinson R44 four-seat light helicopter, and two planes.

Senator Robinhood Padilla told reporters on Thursday, March 7, that Quiboloy lent him one of his helicopters when he campaigned for a Senate seat in 2022.

One plane, a US$18-million (P999 million) Cessna Citation Sovereign+, was bought in 2014 and was sold back to Cessna for US$9 million (P499.5 million) after the 2018 Hawaii incident. Another is a Gulfstream IIB transcontinental twin turbofan-powered aircraft, which was decommissioned in 2010 because it was no longer airworthy.

Generous friend

Quiboloy has been very generous toward his friends, especially Duterte, his new property administrator, with whom he forged a friendship dating back to the years preceding the latter’s presidency.

In 2016, Duterte openly acknowledged being gifted by Quiboloy with three properties in Woodridge Park in Ma-a, along with an additional lot in Royal Pines located in Matina, Davao City. Aside from real estate holdings, Duterte disclosed that Quiboloy had also gifted him with a Nissan Safari and Ford Expedition several years prior.

Duterte said Quiboloy was so generous that whenever the preacher made a purchase, he would buy two so he could give him the other one.

He also recalled that Quiboloy had even offered to cover the expenses for the then-mayor’s consultation with a known American neurosurgeon, Dr. Martin Cooper, after the preacher learned about his sweaty palms.

Preacher’s roots

Quiboloy has humble beginnings, starting as a 19-year-old Pentecostal convert in the late 1960s, recalled Reverend Mallory who claimed to have mentored the then-young preacher long before he started building his religious empire.

“We took him out of a hut…. He and his family used to beg for food…. His teeth were rotten and we took him to a dentist,” the aging Mallory, preaching, told his congregation.

The American preacher said Quiboloy lived with him for eight years, and they sent him to a Bible school where he excelled. Years later, Quiboloy declared himself the “appointed son of God,” and has repeatedly claimed that without him, there will be no eternal salvation.

“He developed into a wonderful preacher and became our national youth president…. But somewhere along the line, he tripped up, left our organization, formed his own, and became something he really isn’t, but he really started to lift himself up…. He turned his back on the apostolic truth,” Mallory said.

Quiboloy traces his roots to the ultraconservative Oneness Pentecostal movement that began in the early 20th century, particularly in the US. It emphasizes a monotheistic view of God, departing from the conventional doctrine of the Trinity. 

Oneness Pentecostals maintain their belief in a singular divine being who reveals himself in three manifestations, as opposed to the orthodox Christian concept of the Trinity consisting of three distinct persons. 

Quiboloy has admitted to going into hiding even before Philippine authorities could issue an arrest order, citing purported threats of assassination. – Rappler.com

*$1 = P55.5

If you have tips about properties linked to Apollo Quiboloy and the KOJC or any other helpful information, you may share them with us via email: investigative@rappler.com.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The video bearing the claim was posted on February 25 by a YouTube channel with over 632,000 subscribers. As of writing, the video has garnered 4,387 views and 95 likes.

The title and thumbnail of the video bears the claim, with text on the thumbnail stating: “ICC may desisyon na! Duterte, guilty!” (ICC has already made a decision! Duterte, guilty!)

The facts: Contrary to the claim, Duterte has not been found guilty of the charges against him, nor has he been acquitted. The ICC has not issued any official decision or announcement on its website regarding its investigation of the human rights abuses committed during the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs. 

The video did not provide any evidence to back up its claim that a verdict has already been reached. Instead, it merely featured audio of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque calling on the current Marcos administration to put in writing the Philippines’ non-cooperation with the ICC on its ongoing probe.

The posting of the misleading video coincides with recent opinion polls that showed growing public support for the Netherlands-based tribunal’s investigation. A Social Weather Stations poll conducted in December 2023 and released in February 2024 indicated that 53% of Filipinos approve of the probe, while 56% agree that the Philippine government should allow the ICC investigation. Similarly, a December 2023 OCTA Research poll, released in February 2024, showed that 59% of Filipinos support the Philippines rejoining the ICC.

ICC investigation: In 2018, then-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opened a preliminary examination into the drug war killings. Under the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs” campaign, at least 6,252 individuals were killed in police operations as of May 2022, while human rights groups estimate that between 27,000 to 30,000 people were killed in vigilante-style executions. 

In 2021, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor formally requested authorization from the court’s pre-trial chamber (PTC) to open a full investigation. In September that year, the PTC granted the request to look into Duterte’s drug war and killings by the so-called Davao Death Squad between 2011 and 2016.

In November 2021, the ICC temporarily suspended its investigation to consider the Philippines’ request to defer to the Philippine government in conducting the probe. The ICC resumed its probe in July 2023 after dismissing the Philippine government’s request and appeal. (TIMELINE: The International Criminal Court and Duterte’s bloody war on drugs)

Non-cooperation with ICC: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said his government will not cooperate with the ICC probe. This stance was further emphasized by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla who “firmly asserted” the ICC’s lack of jurisdiction over the Philippines. (TIMELINE: What the Marcos administration says about the International Criminal Court) 

Amid growing support for the probe and calls for the Philippine government to cooperate with the ICC, the President reiterated his concerns about the investigation, stating on February 20 that it “opens a Pandora’s box.” Marcos said “sufficient answers” to the questions regarding “jurisdiction and sovereignty” are still needed.  

Rappler has debunked similar false claims on the ICC issuing a verdict and summons related to the drug war killings. – Marie Flor Cabarrubias/Rappler.com

Marie Flor Cabarrubias is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

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