Alleged human trafficking victims rescued from KJC Compound

FIFTH TRY Some of the 2,000 police officers mobilized on August 25, 2024 to again serve an arrest warrant on televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, assembled outside the ingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City. — Photo by Germelina Lacorte | Inquirer Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — Two alleged human trafficking victims were rescued from the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) Compound on Sunday, following the service of arrest warrants against its founder Apollo Quiboloy and others, according to Davao police.

In a report, Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 revealed that one of the victims was a 20-year-old boy “Lorenzo,” who left with a KJC member in 2021 for a promised scholarship in Cebu.

READ: 2,000 cops surround KJC complex, arrest warrant vs. Quiboloy served anew

“The parents reported that they have had no direct communication with their son since 2021,” Davao police said.

“They had sought assistance from various agencies in Cebu regarding their son’s situation, but their efforts were unsuccessful until they informed the KJC member who recruited them that they intended to involve the police. It was then that they discovered Lorenzo had been taken to KJC Davao since June 2024,” it added.

Investigation showed that the boy was asked to stay for three months in the KJC compound, but when he sought permission to return home, KJC officials did not allow him.

Meanwhile, a 52-year-old female victim – whose daughter requested her not to be named— was reportedly “recruited” and “brainwashed” by KJC members. Her situation was reported by her 28-year-old daughter to authorities.

The report said the woman “never returned home to her children in Midsayap after being confined inside the KJC Compound.”

PRO 11 said families of both victims sought the assistance of Davao authorities on Sunday morning to help them rescue their loved ones.

The police and the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the region rescued the victims, while the investigation is ongoing.

On Saturday, around 2,000 members of the Philippine National Police raided the KJC Compound in Buhangin District, Davao City to serve arrest warrants for Quiboloy, who is wanted for child abuse, sexual abuse, and qualified trafficking cases.

Last April 3, the Davao Regional Trial Court ordered the arrest of Quiboloy and his five subordinates. They are facing charges of violating the Anti-Child Abuse Law, specifically the provision on sexual abuse of minors and maltreatment.

On April 11, the Pasig City Regional Trial Court also issued a warrant for the arrest of Quiboloy for qualified human trafficking, a nonbailable offense.

Quiboloy has been evading arrest.

On August 8, Davao police regional office Director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III revealed that the fugitive televangelist is only inside the KJC compound.

Authorities first raided the KJC Compound last June 10, but members of the religious sect prevented them from entering.