THE CELEBRATION MUST GO ON With their founder Apollo Quiboloy still in hiding, around 1,000 Kingdom of Jesus Christ members marked the group’s 39th anniversary in Davao City on Sunday, a celebration attended by Vice President Sara Duterte. —Joselle R. Badilla
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — “We’re almost there.”
This was the declaration of Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Davao regional police chief, during Monday’s flag-raising rites at Camp Quintin Merecido here on Monday as he rallied his troops to continue searching for five fugitives led by televangelist Apollo Quiboloy within the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) compound.
“I know we are all exhausted from this manhunt. [But] let us remember why we are here. Our work is to protect the greater number of people, maintain peace, and ensure that everybody follows the law, whoever they are,” Torre pointed out as the police operation entered its 10th day.
READ: PNP firm: Quiboloy still at KJC compound
He urged the police officers to “stand up with Amanda” and all other alleged victims with “a very small voice compared to the voice of the wanted person, Apollo Quiboloy” who, apart from his wealth, is also well connected to the powers that be.
Amanda is among those who accused the KJC leader of sexually abusing her during a Senate investigation.
The hunt for Quiboloy and his four co-accused in child abuse and human trafficking charges continued on Monday with the police asking those who have knowledge about the structures within the KJC compound to share the information with authorities.
Police’s appeal
Maj. Catherine dela Rey, Davao regional police spokesperson, said they would hold in confidence the identities of those who come forward.
Dela Rey added that the main focus of the police operation inside the KJC compound was to find an entry point into the bunker where the fugitives were believed to be hiding.
The police operation was temporarily stopped on Sunday in deference to the KJC’s celebration of its 39th founding anniversary which was graced by Vice President Sara Duterte, although civil disturbance management troops were close by.
Dela Rey reiterated their view that Quiboloy and his co-accused remain inside the KJC compound based on intelligence reports and the information given by their life and motion tracking gadgets.
But she stressed that it was the reaction of the KJC members to the continued police presence that was most telling, saying, “They will not react that way if Quiboloy is somewhere else.”
Torre, at the same time, urged police raiders to draw their strength from the knowledge that “what we are doing is the right thing and sets a good example to all.”
Full responsibility
“If in the future, Apollo Quiboloy, and whoever among his minions will lodge a complaint against you or against us, you will only have one defense: all of you simply followed my orders,” he said.
“As your regional director, I and I alone am responsible for all these. I am taking full responsibility for anything and everything that you do,” he added.
Amid police bashing on social media, especially from KJC members, Torre reminded the police officers: “We have overwhelming support; the whole nation supports us.”