Photo credit: Senate PH

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel raised the alarm about some eyebrow-raising practices within the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC). During a Senate hearing on October 23, 2024, Pimentel flagged possible criminal law violations stemming from the religious group’s controversial "spiritual discipline" rituals.

At the heart of the issue is a testimony from a founding member of KOJC, who revealed to the Senate's Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality that members had undergone "dry fasting" for extended periods, with some fasts lasting anywhere from 10 to 39 days. For those unfamiliar, dry fasting means no food or even water for the duration. Yeah, you read that right—no water, for weeks.

The practice was described as a form of punishment or spiritual discipline within the group, but Pimentel, who’s also a lawyer, is questioning whether this takes things too far. "If there is a religious group or an organized group with a system of punishment, the severity of the punishments might already be crossing the line," he stated. The senator warned that such harsh measures could potentially violate the country’s Revised Penal Code.

While religious groups often have their own set of spiritual practices, Pimentel’s concern is that KOJC’s fasting rituals may be venturing into territory where they clash with laws meant to protect individuals from harm. He’s calling for a deeper look into whether these practices should be considered criminal acts, rather than just extreme forms of spiritual devotion.

This isn’t the first time religious practices have come under the microscope, but it’s certainly sparking a conversation about where to draw the line between spiritual discipline and human rights. As the Senate probe continues, many are keeping a close eye on how this unfolds and what implications it could have for similar groups.