Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos maintained that Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy, who is facing child sexual abuse and qualified human trafficking charges, is still inside his Davao City compound, which the police has been searching for days now.
(From left) DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos and Pastor Apollo Quiboloy (File Photo/MANILA BULLETIN/KOJC)
On the sidelines of the presidential assistance distribution in Cavite on Wednesday, Aug. 28, the official insisted that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has every right to be in the KOJC compound to serve Quiboloy’s warrant of arrest despite a temporary protection order (TPO) issued by the Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 15.
Abalos said that the police is following “a court process,” which orders them to search for Quiboloy.
He also explained that since the KOJC compound is around 30 hectares with several concrete buildings and hidden passages, it is not easy for the police to ascertain the exact time or day that they will be finished with the search because “each and every room is very important.”
He also cited some reports saying that the embattled televangelist, who is also in the Most Wanted list by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has been hiding underground as there might even be “tunnels or bunkers” in the compound.
However, Abalos insisted that there are “strong indications” of Quiboloy’s presence in the compound and the DILG has people and devices to detect the KOJC leader “above ground and underground.”
The official’s statement came after the Davao court ordered the PNP to remove barriers around the KOJC compound and stop threatening activities.
Although he said the barriers will be removed, he stressed that the police will not leave the area.
The Supreme Court (SC) also confirmed the issuance of a TPO against police operations at the KOJC compound, but clarified that this “does not deter” the serving of the arrest warrants against Quiboloy.
The TPO was issued based on the petition for the writ of amparo filed by the religious sect and Jose Maria College Foundation (JMCF) against Abalos and the police force.
It follows the police operation last Aug. 24, wherein 2,000 members of the PNP raided the KOJC compound to serve arrest warrants to Quiboloy.
Abalos explained as well that the TPO is not a temporary restraining order (TRO), which would stop them from their operations in the compound.
Meanwhile, the DILG chief also urged Quiboloy to come out of hiding.
“Kung talagang wala siyang kasalanan, harapin niya ‘to at huwag siyang matakot dito. Para matapos na lahat, let’s face the court, Pastor Quiboloy (If he is not guilty, face this and don’t be scared of it. So this can end, let’s face the court, Pastor Quiboloy),” he said.
“Now it’s time to tell the people your version of what really happened and let the Philippine legal system takes its course,” he added.