Filipino televangelist pleads not guilty to child abuse and human trafficking charges

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Philippine televangelist, who calls himself the “anointed son of God” and once claimed to have stopped an earthquake, pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of abuse of minors and human trafficking in a court arraignment that's the latest mark of his reversal of fortune.

Apollo Carreon Quiboloy and four of his co-accused were brought under heavy security to the regional trial court in Pasig city in metropolitan Manila for the human trafficking charges and was later arraigned by video from police detention by another court handling a separate non-bailable case of child abuse.

Lawyer Israelito Torreon told reporters his client Quiboloy entered not guilty pleas before the two courts because he's innocent of the charges. Quiboloy, 74, also asked the court to allow him to be detained in a hospital due to unspecified illnesses but no immediate decision was made.

Quiboloy, the preacher and founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ group, faces similar charges in the United States, where he has been included in the FBI’s most-wanted list.

The United States was expected to request the extradition of Quiboloy and his co-accused at some point, but President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said they have to first face justice in the Philippines. Quiboloy surrendered in his vast religious complex in the south Sunday in an operation involving more than 2,000 police officers.

In his heyday, Quiboloy was one of the most influential religious leaders in the Philippines with many followers and was regarded a political kingmaker, who backed the equally controversial former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Quiboloy and his co-defendants have been accused of recruiting young followers, who were lured to submit themselves to the “divine will” and promised scholarships and foreign travels but later forced to solicit money in spurious ways including house-to-house Christmas caroling and peddling pastries and biscuits.

The victims were threatened and beaten when they failed to reach collection quotas and defy orders, according to the charge sheet.

More alarmingly, Quiboloy and his key aides were accused of deceiving Filipino and foreign girls as young as 12 to serve as privileged “pastorals,” who were ordered to give Quiboloy a massage in his bedroom before they were raped by him. Some of the alleged victims testified in a Philippine Senate hearing earlier this year on Quiboloy’s alleged crimes, including a woman from Ukraine who testified by video because of the war in her country.

Quiboloy and his co-accused and their lawyers have denied any wrongdoing. They said they were ready to answer the charges in court. The raft of allegations, they said, was fabricated by critics and former members who were removed from his religious group.

After Quiboloy surrendered and taken into police custody in his 30-hectare (75-acre) religious complex in southern Davao city over the weekend, police said at least five other religious followers may file criminal complaints and testify against him.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said Quiboloy had in effect used religion as a cover for criminality. "This is one of the most extreme evils because faith is something sacred,” he told The Associated Press.

Quiboloy has made outrageous claims that sparked questions about his character but endeared him to his fanatical followers. In 2019, he claimed that he stopped a major earthquake from hitting the southern Philippines.

In the U.S., federal prosecutors announced charges against Quiboloy in 2021 for allegedly having sex with women and underage girls who faced threats of abuse and “eternal damnation” unless they catered to the self-proclaimed “son of God.” The allegations were made by former followers of Quiboloy.

The expanded indictment included charges of conspiracy, sex trafficking of children, sex trafficking by force, fraud, money laundering and visa fraud.

Quiboloy and eight other defendants were accused of recruiting women and girls, typically 12 to 25 years old, as “pastorals,” who cooked his meals, cleaned his houses, massaged him and traveled with him around the world. Minors as young as 15 were scheduled for “night duty,” when they were sexually abused by Quiboloy, according to the indictment.

Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, center, wearing a helmet and flak jacket, a Filipino preacher charged with human trafficking, leaves the Pasig Regional Trial Court in Pasig City, Philippines, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon)

People, in green helmet, charged with human trafficking, leave the Pasig Regional Trial Court, walking after Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, a Filipino preacher, in Pasig City, Philippines, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon)

People, in green helmet, charged with human trafficking, enter the Pasig Regional Trial Court, walking after Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, a Filipino preacher, in Pasig City, Philippines, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon)

Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, wearing a helmet and flak jacket, a Filipino preacher charged with human trafficking, enters the Pasig Regional Trial Court in Pasig City, Philippines, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon)

Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, wearing a helmet and flak jacket, a Filipino preacher charged with human trafficking, leaves the Pasig Regional Trial Court in Pasig City, Philippines, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon)

Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, wearing a helmet and flak jacket, a Filipino preacher charged with human trafficking, enters the Pasig Regional Trial Court in Pasig City, Philippines, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon)

Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, wearing a helmet and flak jacket, a Filipino preacher charged with human trafficking, arrives at the Pasig Regional Trial Court in Pasig City, Philippines, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon)

Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, wearing a helmet and flak jacket, a Filipino preacher charged with human trafficking, enters the Pasig Regional Trial Court in Pasig City, Philippines, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon)

PARIS (AP) — As Notre Dame gears up to reopen its doors in December, Paris is on the verge of a remarkable eco-revival, bringing nature back to the forefront of the City of Light.

Beyond restoring the cathedral's iconic spire and medieval charm, the city announced plans Tuesday to revamp Notre Dame's surroundings — to a tune of 50 million euros ($55 million) — into a serene, green oasis.

The project echoes a broader, post-Olympics eco-facelift that’s reshaping Paris from its historic monuments to its bustling avenues.

Among the key elements of this broader transformation are the revitalization of historic spaces like the Champs-Elysees and Place de la Concorde, a redesign aimed at reducing traffic around the Arc de Triomphe, and green promenades connecting the French capital's landmarks.

Here's a look at some of the eco plans for Paris in the coming years:

The reopening on Dec. 8 promises to be a historic moment for Paris, fulfilling President Emmanuel Macron’s vow made after the devastating 2019 fire for a five-year timeline. While the cathedral’s spire and oak-framed roof have been restored to their prefire glory, Paris City Hall's plans for the area around Notre Dame are bringing something new.

The ambitious, future-facing project will create 1,800 square meters (around 20,000 square feet) of green space and plant 160 trees, according to a news conference at City Hall that featured speeches from Paris officials, including mayor Anne Hidalgo on Tuesday.

Hidalgo stated that the redesign will integrate nature and the Seine more fully into the area. Hidalgo emphasized that this transformation aims “to better highlight our beautiful cathedral and do it justice, while respecting its history.”

The redesign includes transforming the underground parking area into a visitor space complete with services and amenities. Additionally, the Seine’s adjacent quays will be revitalized, offering a new promenade along the river. A belvedere will provide panoramic views of the Ile Saint-Louis and the Seine, further enhancing the visitor experience.

The project will unfold in two phases, with the first, focusing on the parvis and surrounding streets, expected to be completed by the end of 2027. The second phase, which will include the renovation of Square Jean-XXIII and other nearby areas, is set to finish by 2030.

At the heart of Paris, the Place de la Concorde — home to the 3,300-year-old Luxor Obelisk — will undergo a significant overhaul between 2026 and 2027.

Paris officials have enlisted the input of a dozen architectural experts to envision how to preserve its rich history, while aligning the plaza with the city’s modern green ambitions. Expect more greenery and less traffic as the revamp balances historical significance with a fresh eco-friendly design.

Not everything has been a picnic in Paris’s post-Olympics makeover.

Two of France’s most high-profile female politicians — Hidalgo and Culture Minister Rachida Dati — are engaged in a fierce battle over the future of the Eiffel Tower, casting a shadow over the city’s plans for its famed monument.

Hidalgo has proposed to keep the Olympic rings affixed to the Eiffel Tower beyond the Games, which ended in August. She argues that the rings symbolize the “festive spirit” of the successful Paris Olympics and wants them to remain at least until the next Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

Critics, however, say Hidalgo is using the Eiffel Tower as a political billboard to boost her image before the 2026 mayoral election, in which she is expected to face off against Dati.

Dati has been vocal in opposing the plan, arguing that the tower is a protected heritage site and can't be altered without proper consultation. She has accused Hidalgo of using the monument as a “personal campaign poster,” while Hidalgo counters that the rings are a harmless tribute to Paris’ Olympic success.

Dati has gone further, launching an ultimatum to push for the Eiffel Tower to be classified as a full historical monument — something Hidalgo has resisted. This would add extra layers of bureaucratic protection and control, potentially thwarting Hidalgo’s plans.

Paris’ Champs-Elysees, sometimes called “the most beautiful avenue in the world,” is receiving a 30-million-euro facelift, beginning with the renovation of its sidewalks, tree bases, and gardens that began in preparation for the Olympics.

With 150 proposals to “re-enchant the Champs-Elysees” over the coming years, this project aims to add even more green spaces and revive its historic charm, reinforcing its reputation as the world’s most beautiful avenue.

Changes to the Arc de Triomphe’s bustling roundabout are designed to reduce traffic flow and calm the surrounding environment.

Traffic lanes encircling the famous monument will be trimmed, while the central ring will be widened, allowing for a quieter, more accessible space.

Leading from the Arc de Triomphe to the Bois de Boulogne, the Avenue de la Grande Armee is also getting the green treatment. Authorities plan to recreate a historic green promenade, transforming this major traffic artery into a lush, tree-lined boulevard that reconnects the avenue with the nearby forest, historically converted into a public park in the 19th century under Napoleon III.

Paris’ Louvre Museum, the world’s most visited, will undergo its own transformation under the “Louvre 2030” project.

Though specific details remain sparse, the project aims to address the growing influx of visitors, with a significant redesign of Place du Louvre planned to help manage the crowds and provide a more tranquil, green environment for visitors.

FILE - People line up to have a close look of Notre Dame cathedral as they visit the rebuilding site during Heritage Day in Paris, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

FILE - Scaffolding is being removed around the spire of Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, showing the rooster and the cross, in Paris, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, File)

FILE - People walk past Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, FILE)