No lockdown in Davao City, says official

Antiriot policemen stand guard outside the KOJC compound in Buhangin District, Davao City where sect members hold a rally on Sunday night. Joselle R. Badilla

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — A local government official here has asked netizens to go slow on sharing unverified information after social media was abuzz with warnings about this city in Mindanao under a lockdown.

Councilor Luna Acosta, in a social media post, said: “Hindi po totoo na naka-lockdown ang Davao City.”

According to Acosta, all entries to and exits from the city are passable, through the usual checkpoints.

She also said that the gate to the Davao International Airport is also open, albeit going to and from there is hampered by heavy traffic, likely due to an ongoing rally outside the compound of Kingdom of Jesus Christ by the sect’s members in support of fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy who is being hunted by some 2,000 police raiders.

The police wrapped up the second day of their search inside the KOJC compound with Quiboloy and his four co-accused still eluding the dragnet. Joselle R. Badilla, Inquirer Mindanao