Quiboloy church manager gets 30 days in jail for lying to feds

Felina Salinas was boarding a private jet with pastor Quiboloy in 2018 in Honolulu when federal agents seized a suitcase with $300,000 hidden in it. She told the agents the suitcase was hers. INQUIRER FILE

HONOLULU– Felina Salinas, local church manager for Filipino televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, was sentenced Monday to 30 days in jail and fined $500 for lying about cash hidden in the latter’s airplane.

She was initially charged with attempted money smuggling, but after further investigation that charge was reduced to giving a false statement.

Salinas was boarding a private jet with pastor Quiboloy in 2018 in Honolulu when federal agents seized a suitcase with $300,000 hidden in it. She told the agents the suitcase was hers.

“She had no idea what was in that luggage. She had no idea there was money in there. So I mean it went from currency smuggling to giving a false statement,” Attorney Michael Green was quoted in a Hawaii News Now report.

As a U.S. citizen, she does not face deportation. The pastor, Quiboloy, was never charged in the case.