The painful truths revealed by the arrest of Apollo Quiboloy, 2

BY FR. SHAY CULLEN

IN 2021, a United States federal grand jury released a 70-page document that indicted Quiboloy and a number of his followers not only for child sexual abuse but also for human trafficking, money laundering and fraud. He has thousands of followers in several countries who were allegedly persuaded or coerced into raising money by begging or selling goods for him. Overseas Filipino workers were tricked into believing in this “Appointed Son of God,” as he was called, and in his “kingdom.” It made him super rich; he had private helicopters and a private jet.

What should shock all of us is the way religious beliefs have been manipulated and twisted into a money-making scheme for a person’s self-enrichment. Quiboloy’s use of Jesus’ sacred name for his allegedly corrupt organization could be considered blasphemous since it offered a cover for the alleged criminal activities committed in his name.

We also must reflect on the level of the real education of many Filipinos who are so easily persuaded by social media and certain personalities to believe and follow anything without critical thinking or reflection. The system of teaching reading and the competence of teachers is being challenged because of the low literacy rate of Filipino students. A 2022 World Bank report said about 90 percent of Filipino children aged 10 had difficulty reading or understanding simple texts. Approximately 40 percent of students cannot read at a basic level.

Portia Padilla, a faculty member of the University of the Philippines College of Education, recently said that some of our teachers did not possess the basic competencies to teach reading.

“As far as education and reading are concerned, we cannot give what we do not have,” she said.

This low level of education and comprehension makes a large section of society unable to think, understand and decide for themselves. This creates a desire to belong and be accepted by others in a movement, cult or political party that provides a quick and easy answer, however false, in a popular way. Many just accept it, unable to understand for themselves and vote without being aware of its real purpose, which could be criminal in nature or damaging to them and society.

The ascent of the Dutertes, aided by Quiboloy and his quasi-religious-political ideology, gave rise to the extreme violence of the former president’s war on illegal drugs. Behind all of this is the moral decay in our nation. Truth, honesty, respect for human rights and dignity, and child protection have declined, and concern for Filipinos’ plight has diminished. Political dynasties always vie for power; it is not really the free choice of the majority that results in the election of government officials, including the president, but the power of money and patronage, like what Quiboloy offered, determines who rules the nation.

In a recent article, Bishop Antonio Abion of the Philippine Independent Church, now living in exile abroad due to his outspokenness for human rights, said: “It is time for the church to stand on the side of justice to challenge the dynasties and corrupt systems that protect the powerful at the expense of the vulnerable, and to lead their flocks in demanding the transformation of a society that has lost its moral bearings.”

Finding moral values, respect for children’s rights, and a commitment to truth and justice are what we must strive to bring about./PN