MANILA — Philippine celebrity pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who calls himself the "Appointed Son of God", pleaded not guilty on Friday to several criminal charges including sexually abusing a child during arraignments in two separate courts, his lawyer said.

Quiboloy, leader of the Philippine-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church which says it has six million followers worldwide, arrived at the heavily guarded Pasig court in a bulletproof helmet and vest.

He told his followers to "stay strong" before police took him into the courtroom.

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"He is innocent," his lawyer, Israelito Torreon, told reporters after his client's first arraignment. Quiboloy also pleaded not guilty to the sexual abuse charges at a Quezon city court via teleconferencing.

Quiboloy, a longtime friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte, is on a US Federal Bureau of Investigation's "most wanted" list after he was indicted for sexual abuse, human trafficking and other crimes.

He will remain in detention at a police headquarters for now, the police said.

The 74-year old pastor was arrested on Sunday at the KOJC's 30-hectare compound in southern Davao city after a weeks-long police operation.

After his arrest, the police said more people had come forward alleging they had been sexually abused by him.

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"It is our firm belief that the truth regarding the alleged criminal acts of Apollo C Quiboloy and his co-accused will ultimately be disclosed," Joahna Paula Domingo, a co-counsel for one of the alleged victims, said in a statement.

"These cases have been filed in 2019 and we have long been seeking justice for the complainant since then," she said.

In a statement issued by KOJC ahead of Quiboloy's arraignment, the church said that its "cardinal rule" was that members are "not forced to do anything against their will."