Fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police has appealed to fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who again eluded a third attempt by the police to arrest him on charges of human trafficking and sexual abuse, to surrender and face the allegations against him.
The PNP simultaneously served an arrest warrant against Quiboloy in several of his properties in Davao City on Monday, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said at a press briefing in Camp Crame.
While Fajardo could not immediately provide details, she said one of those properties included the Prayer Mountain in Barangay Tamayong. Quiboloy heads the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) sect, based in Davao City.
READ: Where on earth is Quiboloy?
“We appeal to Pastor Quiboloy… to turn himself into authorities so he can answer the charges against him,” she said.
Fajardo said they were still waiting for the report on the outcome of the operation.
She also called for calm among supporters of Quiboloy in order not to hamper their operations.
READ: Escudero on Quiboloy: Court arrest order has priority over Senate summon
“The PNP is implementing a warrant of arrest and their presence there is in accordance with the law. Please help us,” Fajardo said, adding that “the last thing the PNP wants is to raise tensions.”
Fajardo said the implementation of the arrest warrant was an indication of their belief that Quiboloy was still in the country.
“There’s no confirmation or validation from BI (Bureau of Immigration) that he has left the country,” she pointed out.
KOJC members arrested
About a hundred policemen simultaneously stormed three properties of the KOJC in Davao City at 4 a.m., catching members of the religious sect by surprise and resulting in a brief commotion that hurt at least three people.
According to Police Maj. Catherine dela Rey, spokesperson for the Davao regional police office, troops from different units, including the Special Action Force and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, simultaneously arrived at Quiboloy’s KOJC compound in Buhangin district, which houses the Jose Maria College; the 25-hectare Glory Mountain in Barangay Tamayong about 30 kilometers west of downtown Davao; and the 50-hectare Prayer Mountain, which is near Glory Mountain.
However, Quiboloy and five of his coaccused in the nonbailable qualified human trafficking case were nowhere to be found.
At the pastor’s Glory Mountain, five people were handcuffed and arrested because they were found “carrying bolos during the raid,” according to Quiboloy’s lawyer Israelito Torreon.
Dela Rey said the troops only aimed to serve the arrest warrant on Quiboloy and five other KOJC officers and individuals facing qualified trafficking charges at the Pasig City court.
She clarified that it was not a raid but just a normal police operation to serve a standing warrant, although three helicopters were seen hovering over the KOJC compound during the operation.
Forcible entry
Quiboloy’s five coaccused—Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Sylvia Cemanes, Jackielyn W. Roy and Ingrid Canada—earlier posted bail for the child abuse cases they were facing in the Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC).
According to Torreon, a brief scuffle occurred at the KOJC compound in Buhangin when policemen tried to scale the gate at 3:45 a.m., hurting at least three KOJC members.
It was only when the lawyers arrived that the police were allowed to peacefully enter the compound.
“What happened in Glory Mountain was much worse. The main gate was smashed [and] destroyed when the police forcibly entered the property. Five members of KOJC were arrested and handcuffed by the police as they allegedly were carrying bolos during the raid,” he told the Inquirer in a text message.
“We don’t have friends when it comes to serving warrants of arrest,” said Dela Rey, as she appealed to the public who [knew] the whereabouts of the pastor to cooperate with authorities.
Senate probe
Early this year, the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros conducted several investigations related to accusations of sexual abuse and maltreatment allegedly committed by Quiboloy, who refused to attend the hearings.
In March, the Senate issued an order to have Quiboloy arrested and detained at the Senate following his continued refusal to face the chamber’s investigation.
On April 3, the Davao RTC issued a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy and his five coaccused for violating Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, specifically the provision on sexual abuse of minors and maltreatment.
The Pasig City court also issued on April 11 a warrant against Quiboloy for qualified human trafficking.
In the United States, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a wanted poster declaring Quiboloy as one of the most wanted suspected sex traffickers in America on Jan. 31, 2022.
According to the FBI website, Quiboloy was charged with “Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion, and Sex Trafficking of Children; Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion; Conspiracy; Bulk Cash Smuggling.” —with a report from Inquirer Research