Religious leader Apollo Quiboloy has been hiding inside the 30-hectare property of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) in Davao City, a ranking official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed on Thursday, Aug. 8. 

Police Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, director of the Police Regional Office 11, said this was the information which they have been receiving even before a P10 million bounty was placed on the KOJC leader wanted for serious criminal offenses that include human trafficking and child abuse.

“Yes (he is inside the KOJC compound). That’s the indicators and what our informants have been telling us. He is inside and being guarded by his supporters,” said Torre.

But if the PNP knows where he is hiding all along, what’s making it difficult to arrest him?

Torre explained that the main consideration is the violence that would certainly ensue should the PNP force its way inside the KOJC compound amid the presence of hundreds of Quiboloy’s die-hard supporters. 

“The challenge is how to implement this in accordance with the rules but at the same time, with least casualty on both sides. We don’t want it to happen,” Torre told reporters in an interview at Camp Crame during the 123^rd Police Service Anniversary on Thursday. 

Indications of the escalation of violence, he said, was already reflected when Quiboloy’s supporters used a fire truck to hose down the policemen who were supposed to implement the arrest warrant at the KOJC compound on June 10.

Another challenge is that searching inside the KOJC property would certainly take a long time since aside from the fact that it is 30-hectare big, there are also several establishments inside. 

Torre said these establishments include a coliseum four times bigger than the Araneta Coliseum.

And the longer the cops stay inside, the bigger the possibility that violence may erupt.

Tightly guarded

Currently, Torre said they are ensuring that the compound is tightly guarded to prevent his escape.

The intensified monitoring, he said, includes the KOJC’s air assets such as two airplanes and four helicopters.

Two weeks ago, Torre said they immediately alerted the airport authorities after monitoring that one of the helicopters tried to fly.

The pilot later landed the helicopter and told airport authorities that he was just warming up the engine.

 But Torre said they have plans if Quiboloy attempts to flee using his air assets.

“We have our air unit. Our air unit is armed. Worse comes to worst, they can try the might of the government if they want to do that,” said Torre.

Just surrender 

While the PNP can still choose the path of forcibly entering the KOJC, Torre said what they still consider is the safety and well-being of Quiboloy’s supporters. 

This is the reason, he said, why they are continuously finding ways to arrest Quiboloy with no violence.

“We are concentrating on hammering into his head and his lawyers that the only way for this to be resolved peacefully and with justice for all, is for him to submit to the jurisdiction of the court,” said Torre.

“We are hoping that his supporters would be enlightened that what the police are doing is a very simple part of the justice system,” said Torre.