FBI-Wanted Megachurch Leader Apollo Quiboloy in Hiding Amid Claims the U.S. Wants Him Killed | TIME

A Philippine televangelist and “spiritual adviser” to former President Rodrigo Duterte wanted by the FBI said he has gone into hiding, accusing officials in the U.S. and Philippines of seeking to “eliminate” him.

Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, who founded the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name (KOJC) megachurch, posted a 37-minute audio recording Wednesday on the YouTube channel of his TV network Sonshine Media, claiming that, according to his “reliable sources,” U.S. government bodies are now seeking to conduct “rendition” on him instead of extradition for sex trafficking charges he is facing stateside. Rendition is the surrender by a state of a fugitive to another state charging the fugitive with a crime, though details of Quiboloy’s supposed rendition were scant.

Quiboloy, who is facing various charges in the U.S. in relation to a sex trafficking scheme and is wanted by the FBI, also claimed that there was a $2-million bounty on his head, and that U.S. operatives are constantly surveilling his compounds. The FBI has denied such bounty, while the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines issued a statement saying it is “confident that Quiboloy will face justice for his heinous crimes.”

“It’s not only rendition, but also elimination,” he added. “If possible, they can assassinate me.”

The televangelist’s accusations come as both chambers of the Philippine Congress have issued summons against him as part of investigations into his megachurch’s involvement in sexual and physical abuse crimes and alleged violations by his TV network. He has not appeared in those investigations, and both houses have warned that he could be arrested for skipping them.

Malacañang, the office of the Philippine President, has not responded to TIME’s request for comment on Quiboloy’s accusations.

Quiboloy, meanwhile, argues the pursuit of his case is highly politicized. “It’s not my fault that I am friends with politicians like President Duterte, Vice President Sara [Duterte-Carpio],” he said in the video.

Quiboloy, 73, has referred to himself as “the Appointed Son of God.” His church, KOJC, is a Christian sect in the largely-Catholic Philippines that claims to have some 4 million