PNP: Quiboloy, cohorts hiding below ground
AUTHORITIES have detected heartbeats from a supposed underground bunker inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City where fugitive religious leader Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused are believed to be hiding.
Maj. Catherine Dela Rey, spokesperson of the Davao police regional office, said the heartbeats of people were detected by a life-detector device the PNP has been using in its ongoing search of the 30-hectare compound.
“As of now, we are just looking for the entrance to the bunker… We used a life detection device, and we detected heartbeats underground,” Dela Rey told a radio interview in mixed English and Filipino.
“Hopefully, we can find the bunker entrance today…There are confirmed heartbeats underground. The heartbeats, detected by the device, came from many people,” she also said.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the bunker is believed to be 20 to 30 meters from the ground.
“We detected signs of life. That is where we are concentrating,” said Fajardo, referring to the area inside the compound where they detected the underground bunker.
“Without giving specifics, that’s (area) the concentration of the search because our ground-penetrating radar found signs of life underground,” said Fajardo.
Dela Rey expressed confidence that the fugitive pastor and his co-accused are hiding inside the bunker.
“We’re very positive of the information that we received that Quiboloy and his companions are inside the KOJC compound,” she said.
Police officials have earlier said they have information about the presence of underground tunnels and ground compartments inside the KOJC compound where the religious leader may be hiding.
Quiboloy is facing charges for alleged violation of Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
He is also facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge before a Pasig court.
Quiboloy was also indicted by a California court in 2021 for allegedly conspiring to engage in sex trafficking and has an active arrest warrant in the US issued on November 10, 2021, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Quiboloy has denied the accusations but went into hiding and has remained at large.
PRAYER RALLY
On Sunday, over a thousand followers and supporters of Quiboloy held a protest outside the KOJC compound as police continued to comb the premises.
The crowd was down to about 200 as of yesterday morning, said Dela Rey, adding that the protesters secured a permit from the city government to hold the candle lighting and prayer rally inside the compound.
Dela Rey said the protesters violated the permit when they burned tires and held the protest action outside the compound. They likewise blocked the road using two cranes, a wing van and an ambulance.
She said the rally turned violent after protesters attacked the policemen who were manning the perimeters of the property to maintain peace and order.
Del Rey said six policemen were injured, five of whom were brought to the hospital. She said three of the protesters were arrested and will be charged for direct assault and obstruction of justice.
Yesterday afternoon, policemen dispersed the rallyists, leading to the arrest of at least 18 more protesters.
Prior to the dispersal, one of the supporters of Quiboloy said they would clear the road if policemen inside the KOJC compound would also leave.
The PNP has deployed 2,375 policemen to the KOJC compound last Saturday to serve the arrest warrants issued against Quiboloy and his five co-accused.
Authorities justified the deployment amid criticisms it was overkill, saying that many of the policemen were assigned to guard the compound and address the unruly behavior of the pastor’s supporters.
Dela Rey said they have requested for additional 300 policemen from PNP units outside the region.
“We have requested augmentation from other provinces… to be part of our CMD (civil disturbance management) contingent,” she said.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS
The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) yesterday welcomed the rescue of alleged victims of human trafficking during the execution of the arrest warrants.
IACAT said the rescued victims are now under the protection of the police after having been assessed and processed by the DSWD in accordance with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
It urged other victims or their relatives to come forward and report it to the police.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla also on Sunday urged KOJC members who may have possibly been victims of human trafficking to come out in the open.
Remulla urged assured the victims and their families of their safety and protection.
IACAT said that it, together with the Department of Justice (DOJ), are coordinating closely with the PNP and DSWD Region 11 office in Davao to provide comprehensive support to the alleged victims and to assist in the case build-up.
“If and when the facts are verified and there is indeed a case for human trafficking, prosecution shall ensue. IACAT reaffirms its commitment to the fight against human trafficking and will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to bring perpetrators to justice and ensure the protection and rehabilitation of all victims,” it said.
Remulla said: “l also call for a stronger collaboration between and among the DOJ through the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking or IACAT, the PNP, and the DSWD to ensure airtight cases against the perpetrators with the end view to delivering justice to their victims.”
Likewise, the IACAT called on all law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to continue their search for potential victims of trafficking, and to always uphold the law and respect human rights.
It also asked the members of KOJC to cooperate fully in the ongoing efforts to implement the warrant of arrest and rescue other potential victims.
At the House of Representatives, Davao Oriental Rep. Cheeno Miguel Almario called for a congressional inquiry into the rescue of two alleged victims of human trafficking during the raid, suspecting that KOJC could be “harboring criminals and keeping more victims.”
“We are alarmed at the fact when a valid warrant of arrest for Apollo Quiboloy was enforced at the KOJC compound, they found alleged victims of human trafficking. This is a clear-cut sign that there is irrefutable basis for the accusations being brought forth against him. Ibig bang sabihin nito na patuloy na nangyayari ang krimen na ibinibintang kay Mr. Quiboloy? (Does it mean that the allegations against Mr. Quiboloy continues to happen?” Almario asked.
Rep. Margarita Nograles (PL, PBA) commended the PNP and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 11 for their swift action in rescuing two alleged human trafficking victims at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City, while also condemning anyone who would defend the heinous crimes allegedly occurring within the premises.
“I applaud the PNP and DSWD for their decisive action in rescuing these young individuals from what appears to be a deeply troubling situation. The safety and well-being of our citizens, especially the most vulnerable, must always be a top priority,” Nograles said.
“However, I also strongly condemn anyone who attempts to defend or downplay the severity of these crimes. Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights, and those responsible, including any accomplices, must be held accountable,” she added.
QUIBOLOY’S FAULT
Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros said the disorder at the KOJC property “is all because of Apollo Quiboloy” who still refuse to surrender to the courts.
“This is all because of Apollo Quiboloy. Hindi aabot sa ganitong kaguluhan kung simula’t sapul palang ay nagpakita na siya sa Senado o korte (This would not have happened if only Quiboloy immediately showed up before the Senate or the court),” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“Quiboloy, matatapos ang lahat ng ito kung magpakita ka na sa publiko (Quiboloy, all of these would stop once you show yourself in public),” Hontiveros said.
Senate President Francis Escudero shared the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Davao City’s call for sobriety and respect for the rule of law as the PNP continued its search for Quiboloy at the KOJC compound in Buhangin, Davao City.
Likewise, Escudero echoed Sen. Ronald dela Rosa call for Quiboloy’s surrender.
“I likewise join Sen. Dela Rosa in calling on and urging Pastor Quiboloy to surrender in order to avoid any further aggravation and worsening of the situation where there may be more needless loss of lives as well as an increasing disrespect for the rule of law and our law enforcers,” Escudero said.
Hontiveros said that while she understands the job of the police, they must ensure that “no violence is committed in the exercise of their mandate.”
She said KOJC members should also follow the rule of law. — With Jocelyn Montemayor, Ashzel Hachero, Wendell Vigilia and Raymond Africa
