Authorities visit Quiboloy’s properties to serve arrest order

Authorities have visited the properties owned by Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy to serve the arrest order against him, according to Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) chief Police Brigadier General Alden Delvo.

Delvo said police and other law enforcement agencies assisted the Senate's Office of Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) to implement the arrest order.

“They are here in Davao. They are with my men, the [National Bureau of Investigation], PRO 11, [Davao City Police Office], and [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group],” he said in a press conference.

“They will be going to the establishments owned by Pastor Quiboloy and will serve the order of arrest for contempt…Honestly, at this very hour, they are at some point in the establishment of Pastor Quiboloy with the assistance of the PNP (Philippine National Police),” he added.

The Senate issued an arrest order against Quiboloy for "unduly refusing to appear, despite due notices" at the hearings on his alleged involvement in sexual abuses of his members and human trafficking issues.

A Davao court has also issued a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy and five others over charges of child abuse.

Four of the co-accused turned themselves over to authorities, while another, Cresente Canada, was arrested by NBI agents.

All five have posted bail while Quiboloy remains at-large.

Whereabouts

According to Delvo, the police earlier visited Quiboloy’s properties in Davao City and Samal Island but they did not see him there.

Delvo noted that the KOJC compound and Tamayong prayer mountain in Davao City as well as the resort in Samal Island are too vast for the authorities to fully scour these areas.

For now, Delvo said authorities are gathering intelligence information on the whereabouts of Quiboloy.

“Wala pa talaga. I am relying on the intelligence community na makapagbigay sila ng relevant, timely, and accurate information to me so I could relay to of course my bosses para makagawa kami ng instructions sa lower units,” Delvo said.

(We really do not have information yet. I am relying on the intelligence community to ensure that they can provide relevant, timely, and accurate information to me so I can relay it to my bosses and make instructions to the lower units.)

Asked about the challenges in tracking Quiboloy, Delvo said the religious leader has a lot of connections and resources for logistics.

Nonetheless, Delvo expressed optimism that Quiboloy will be arrested.

“The long arms of the law will definitely catch up with him and any fugitive in the Philippines or probably around the world. At one time or another, they will be arrested and will be facing the courts,” he said.

A Senate hearing was conducted on the alleged human trafficking and sexual abuse of some members of Quiboloy’s KOJC, while a House hearing is tackling issues against the franchise renewal of Quiboloy’s Sonshine Media Network Inc. (SMNI).

In the United States, Central District of California Judge Terry Hatter Jr. on March 7 ordered the unsealing of the arrest warrants against Quiboloy and his co-accused.

The unsealing was requested by the United States Attorney Criminal Division handling Quiboloy's case, which involves charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and cash smuggling.

"Upon application of the government, and for good cause shown, the arrest warrants and returns in this case are unsealed," Hatter said in his order dated March 1, 2024.

According to New York lawyer Lara Gregory, this could be the first step in initiating the extradition process by the US Department of Justice for Quiboloy.

Now that the arrest warrants for Quiboloy and his co-accused have been unsealed, INTERPOL may also issue Red Notices for their names to be put on notice, he added. 

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday, however, vowed that the proceedings Quiboloy would be fair, adding that the latter should not worry about the United States meddling in his cases.

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader has denied the accusations against him. —VAL, GMA Integrated News