AN initial investigation conducted by the military showed that the Angels of Death, the alleged private army of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy, does not have members who are serving as reservists of the Philippine Army.

“As of now, we have not identified any reservist involved with the alleged Angels of Death,” Army spokesman Louie Dema-ala told a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.

Dema-ala said the Army is continuing its probe, parallel to the investigation being conducted by the PNP, to identify possible military reservists within the KOJC who might be connected to the private army.

“The PNP is the lead agency in the conduct of the investigation on the matter. The Philippine National Police is in the position to answer that (other details),” said Dema-ala.

“It’s up to the PNP to say the details about the identity of the alleged former members of Angels of Death… We still have no information. We have no list. What we are looking into is the possible involvement of our reservists. But as to the list of those members of the alleged Angel of Death, we have none,” he added.

Several child abuse victims of Quiboloy who recently came out in the open alleged they were raped by the pastor when they were 12 to 13 years old. They alleged that the religious leader threatened they would be harmed by members of the Angels of Death if they will reveal their ordeal to authorities.

The PNP has said it has in custody a former Angels of Death member who admitted that the group is used to harass and harm KOJC members who violate the religious group’s code of secrecy.

It said that initial information they have gathered indicated that the members of the Angels of Death are KOJC members who were purportedly also Army reservists.

The Army earlier confirmed that there are 540 employees of KOJC-owned Sonshine Media Network Inc. (SMNI) who are serving as Army reservists under the 2nd Reservist Signal Battalion. 

“Currently, we have an ongoing internal investigation in the Philippine Army. The Philippine Army is focused on the possible involvement of our reservists. But as of now, we have not identified any reservists involved with the alleged Angels of Death,” said Dema-ala.