PNP braces for long battle to get Quiboloy

MANILA, Philippines — With Apollo Quiboloy suspected to be hiding out at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City, the Philippine National Police is gearing up for a long battle to arrest the fugitive preacher.

Col. Jean Fajardo, the PNP’s chief information officer, cited the challenges of apprehending Quiboloy, who is wanted for child abuse and qualified human trafficking based on warrants issued by courts in Davao and Pasig, given that he is believed to be holed up in his 30-hectare property.

Quiboloy has thousands of followers, some of whom have been guarding the KOJC compound and preventing police and other law enforcement agencies from implementing the warrants of arrest against the preacher and his four co-accused – Cresente Canada, Ingrid Canada, Jackielyn Roy and Sylvia Cemanes – whom authorities believe are also inside the compound.

Police attempted to implement the arrest warrants last June 10 but were met with fierce resistance from Quiboloy’s supporters.

“We are preparing for a longer battle this time, if I may say that,” she said at a news briefing in Camp Crame yesterday.

Fajardo clarified that police officers could spend days looking for the evangelist inside the vast compound which also has tunnels, which the police spokesperson said is an open secret.

Davao police director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III on Thursday revealed Quiboloy is hiding at the KOJC compound, citing the accounts of their informants.

The Court of Appeals has issued a 20-day freeze order against the bank accounts, properties and other assets of Quiboloy, his church and media group.

Fajardo said the freezing of Quiboloy’s assets would help in the manhunt against the evangelist as it would prevent him from using his resources to elude arrest.

She urged Quiboloy and his co-accused to surrender and face the cases against them.

Vice President Sara Duterte has criticized the government’s pursuit of the wanted pastor, saying it appears that the administration is bent on “destroying” its enemies “even if the accusations are untrue.”

Speaking to select media outfits on Thursday, Duterte spoke out against the Marcos administration’s pursuit of Quiboloy, which has now led to police officers being relieved from their posts due to their failure to capture the spiritual leader.

She earlier said that Quiboloy is experiencing a form of “persecution” and that he should be given a fair fight in the proper forum or court. — Neil Jayson Servallos