Philippines

11 profiled groups with documented operations in Philippines — 1 Extreme-band, 6 High-band, 4 Moderate or below. Presence here describes documented operations, not a judgement about Philippines or its communities; many listed groups also operate elsewhere.

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Christian

Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name (Apollo Quiboloy)

Philippines-based restorationist Christian movement founded in 1985 by Apollo Quiboloy, who identifies himself in the organisation's own publications as 'the Appointed Son of God'. Subject of an active US Department of Justice federal indictment including sex-trafficking charges, an FBI Most Wanted listing, a Philippine Senate inquiry, and a September 2024 Philippine criminal arrest. All charges remain pending.

Christian

Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ)

Filipino Christian denomination founded by Felix Manalo (1914), now headquartered in Quezon City under Eduardo V Manalo. Notable for disciplined bloc-voting in Philippine elections and the 2015 'Lowell Menorca' family-internal abduction allegations.

Christian

Members Church of God International (Eli Soriano / 'Ang Dating Daan')

Filipino Christian movement founded by Eliseo 'Eli' Soriano (1947–2021). Soriano fled to Brazil in 2005 facing rape and child-abuse charges; the case was dismissed and later refiled, and he remained a wanted fugitive who never returned to face trial, dying in Brazil in 2021 with the case unresolved. Successor: Daniel Razon.

Christian

The Message of the Hour / William Branham / Voice of God Recordings

Post-WWII Pentecostal prophet movement founded around the ministry of William Marrion Branham (1909–1965), an American faith-healing evangelist. After Branham's December 1965 death in a road accident in Texas, followers organised around the Voice of God Recordings ministry in Jeffersonville, Indiana (now led by Branham's son Joseph), which distributes Branham's sermon recordings as scripture-equivalent. Doctrines include Branham as the end-times Elijah, the 'Serpent's Seed' doctrine, and a distinctive pre-tribulation rapture timeline. Approximately 500 congregations and 1-2 million followers globally.

Christian

Miles Jesu (Vatican-suppressed Catholic ecclesial institute)

Catholic ecclesial institute founded 1964 by Father Alfonso María Durán Ariza (1922-2009). Approximately 200 members at peak across multiple countries. Suppressed by the Vatican in 2007 following an apostolic visitation that documented cult-like coercive-control practices; founder Durán removed from leadership and ordered to a life of prayer and penance. Smaller but well-documented case in the Catholic ecclesial-movement-as-cult research literature.

Hindu

Science of Identity Foundation / Chris Butler

Hawaii-based offshoot of the Krishna-consciousness tradition led by Chris Butler ('Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda'), operating through low-visibility satsang networks, schools, and political engagement rather than temples. Ex-members — several now public figures' critics — describe absolute guru veneration, purity rules, homophobic teaching, and children raised under total deference to Butler. Coverage expanded after adherent-raised politician Tulsi Gabbard's campaigns drew scrutiny to the network.

Other

Tadtad cults (Mindanao amulet militias)

'Tadtad' — from the Cebuano for 'chop' — is the Philippine press label for a family of folk-religious militia cults in Mindanao that fused splinter folk-Catholicism, anting-anting amulet magic, and armed organisation during the island's conflict decades from the 1970s onward. Groups under the label — among them offshoots of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association milieu, the Rock Christ and Sagrado Corazon Señor movements, and numerous local bands — held that consecrated amulets, oils, prayers, and tattoos rendered members invulnerable to bullets, and fought with bladed weapons in the communal violence, vigilante campaigns, and counter-insurgency of the era, appearing in the documented record of several massacres. This is a composite entry at low confidence: the groups were numerous, local, and fluid, and the scholarly record treats them as a pattern rather than a single organisation.

Islam

Philippine Moro high-control groups (umbrella)

Umbrella for high-control Moro political-religious groups beyond mainstream Philippine Muslim community. Various specific armed groups.

Christian

El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners (Mike Velarde, Philippines)

Filipino Catholic charismatic movement founded by Mariano 'Brother Mike' Velarde (1984). Distinctive seed-faith giving and political influence in Philippine elections. Operates within (rather than separate from) the Catholic Church.

Christian

Aglipayan Church (Iglesia Filipina Independiente)

Philippine national church founded in 1902 by Gregorio Aglipay and Isabelo de los Reyes after the Philippine Revolution. ~1–2 million adherents; in full communion with the Episcopal Church (USA) and Old Catholic Union of Utrecht.

Christian

Philippine Catholic Church (mainstream)

Philippine Catholic Church. Largest Catholic community in Asia. Mainstream voluntary tradition.

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Complete list of 11 group profiles