Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. said that police operatives uncovered hidden spaces and hallways at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound.
The discovery of the undisclosed rooms and pathways was made as the Philippine National Police (PNP) relentlessly pursued its manhunt for KOJC leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy Jr. in the said Davao City compound.
In a DILG Facebook post, Abalos presented photos and recorded clips that documented the police operation where the secret rooms and passageways were discovered inside the KOJC compound.
"The Petition for Certiorari, Prohibition, and Mandamus is also presented and scheduled to be filed today, August 30, 2024, at the Court of Appeals in Cagayan de Oro City," the Facebook post noted.
Accordingly, a complex structural plan has prompted the DILG to request the Davao City government for the KOJC engineering design to determine if this was declared or not, citing that an undeclared blueprint is illegal.
Earlier, Abalos declared that the PNP is duty bound to serve the warrant of arrests to Quiboloy in connection with the qualified human trafficking, sexual abuse of minors and maltreatment charges filed against him and several others.
The DILG chief clarified this was in response to claims that the police used "excessive force" in issuing the arrest warrants to Quiboloy and company.
He reiterated his urgent call for Quiboloy to just surrender, face the charges and air his side of the story in the court of law to spare everyone from any chaotic incidents and unfavorable circumstances.
"He is deemed to be innocent until his guilt is proven. Mas mabuti sumuko na siya, magpakita na siya para maklaro lahat because these are very serious allegations (It is better for him to surrender, go out in the open to clear things up since these are very serious allegations)," Abalos insisted.
In calling for his immediate surrender anew, Abalos challenged Quiboloy to just answer the charges directly and head on if the accusations are true or not.
Admitting never knowing Quiboloy personally, Abalos stated respecting the KOJC religion and his inner self but insisted that the law should always prevail.
"Ilaban natin ang mga anak natin. Bilang ama, hindi dapat mangyari sa kung sino man na anak ito. Hustisya lang po, dapat malaman natin ang totoo dito (Let us fight for our children. As a father, these things should not happen to any child. We just want justice, we want to know the truth)," Abalos asserted.
The DILG chief maintained that justice is the basis of democracy and the basis of justice is the rule of law that the government is enforcing.
"Kung hindi namin gagawin iyan, babagsak ang buong bansa kung tatalikod na lang kami rito," dagdag pa niya (If we will not enforce this, the whole country will be in turmoil if we trun our backs on this)," Abalos continued.