DAVAO CITY – Ferdinand Topacio, Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy legal counsel, said on Sunday night, September 9, that his client surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and was not arrested by the Philippine National Police.
TOPACIO
“Based on reliable information, our client, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, voluntarily surrendered to the Intelligence Service of the AFP (ISAFP). He was not arrested, especially not by the PNP under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),” Topacio said in a statement.
Topacio underscored that it is “epal (shameless self-promotion) to the highest level” for DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. to take credit for the “non-existent arrest seemingly.” He said Quiboloy’s legal team will continue to protect his rights under the Constitution and the laws as they prepare for his defense.
Police Regional Office-11 Director Nicolas Torre III, in an interview with News5, seemed to have no idea if Quiboloy surrendered or was arrested. Torre urged the media to ask the DILG or the PNP spokesperson, Police Colonel Jean Fajardo, for details.
“To be honest, I do not know the actual details. (But) I’m sure he was just found within the KOJC compound. Only the (PNP) spokesperson knows about it,” Torre said, stressing that arresting the “self-proclaimed son of God” and his co-accused is not only the police’s job.
Torre denied that police assigned to the KOJC in Davao City was bypassed. He said they were only following orders and have pulled out from the KOJC compound since Quiboloy has surfaced.
The Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) shared photos of KOJC missionaries and members embracing police officers leaving the compound on their Facebook page. The post said the KOJC wholeheartedly embraced Quiboloy’s teaching to love enemies.
Over 2,000 policemen were deployed to the compound from August 24 to September 8, before Quiboloy surrendered, and started searching all the buildings amid the alleged resistance of his members.
The pressure for police to leave started following the Temporary Protection Order (TPO) from the Davao City Regional Trial Court (RTC)-Branch 15 and statements from politicians who insisted that police presence was against the law.
However, the court order was nullified, and despite a Senate inquiry on the legality of the operation at the compound, the PNP insisted on remaining inside the to search for Quiboloy.
At around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Fajardo reported that police have gained custody of Quiboloy and four co-accused – Crisente and Ingrid Canada, Sylvia Cemañes, and Jackielyn Roy.
Another Quiboloy lawyer, Israelito Torreon, said his client voluntarily surrendered to stop further violence at the compound.
Torreon shared two photos with Quiboloy in his Facebook account with a lengthy caption saying he surrendered to the PNP and AFP to end lawless violence at the compound.
Quiboloy, Torreon said, could not bear to witness the sufferings that his people were experiencing for weeks. He added that he was waiting for positive results vis-a-vis legal remedies his lawyers opted to avail, thus, he was out of reach for several days.
“However, heart-wrenching and mind-boggling events transpired where a warrant of arrest was turned into a license to convert his beloved KOJC compound into a police garrison. The sacred KOJC cathedral was desecrated,” Torreon said.
Quiboloy added that the Jose Maria College (JMC) had turned into a mining pit, his followers as recipients of brutalities, one of whom even died, scores injured, many got arbitrarily nabbed, and vehicles unilaterally confiscated, all of which caused his heart to bleed.
“Hence, even if he has the right to await the result of the legal remedies being resorted to by his lawyers, he decided to make the ultimate sacrifice by surrendering himself to the PNP and AFP,” Torreon said.
He added that Quiboloy’s surrender was through the “valiant and facilitative efforts” exerted by Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib and Philippine Army 10th Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Allan Hambala.
Torreon also cited officers from the Davao region: Col. Guilbert Roy Ruiz, Lt. Col. Jovily Carmel Cabading, Lt. Col. Pete Malaluan, Lt Col. Ricardo “Ray” Garcia, Police Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz, Police Major Gen. Leo Francisco, Police Col. Cholijun Caduyac, Police Col. Mike Mangahis, Police Major Edgardo Bahan, and retired Police Col. Emil Zosa.
Quiboloy acknowledged Police Major Gen. Benjamin Silo Jr., whose character, integrity, and honesty convinced him to submit himself to the folds of the law on Sunday, Torreon added.