Quiboloy Says God Sent Omicron, Delta to Punish Those Who Persecute Him

Self-proclaimed "Appointed Son of God" Apollo Quiboloy told his followers Sunday that the world would see more coronavirus variants like Omicron and Delta unless people stop "persecuting him".

Quiboloy, who is facing sex trafficking and immigration fraud charges in the U.S., said "no one can escape" what God has planned due to the "persecution" of his appointed son. He is pastor and leader of the Davao-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name.

"Delta variant of the COVID-19 is only an introduction. If you keep on hurting, persecuting, and harming the appointed son and the kingdom, you will see much worse than the Omicron virus (sic)," Quiboloy said in a sermon.

He once told followers that a powerful earthquake in Mindanao stopped because he told it to stop.

"The day of the Lord is here. Do not ever, ever play a joke or continue to pursue the persecution of the appointed son because the father in heaven has already declared through the appointed son, no one can escape this."

Aside from sex trafficking charges, Quiboloy is also facing libel charges for accusing presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao of embezzling government funds.

Since its discovery over the weekend in southern Africa, Omicron has forced some countries to shut borders to prevent fresh outbreaks ahead of Christmas. 

So far, scientists have said that Omicron has more mutations than Delta. The WHO said the most common PCR test can detect the variant. 

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