KOJC leader Apollo Quiboloy caught

Fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy has been caught, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said Sunday evening.

In a Facebook post, Abalos shared a photo of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader with his lawyer Israelito Torreon. "Nahuli na si Pastor Quiboloy!" he said.

Abalos told GMA Integrated News' Athena Imperial that Quiboloy was caught at 6 p.m. inside the KOJC compound in Davao City, where the police had been searching for him since August 24.

Eastern Mindanao Commander Lieutenant General Luis Bergante also confirmed to GMA Regional TV that Quiboloy surrendered to the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said the AFP has been "in full support" of the PNP from the start of the operation.

"Our role in this matter has been purely in support of the PNP's efforts in serving the warrant. As this is primarily a police operation, we defer to the PNP to provide the details and updates on the situation," she said.

Another Quiboloy lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, said that the pastor voluntarily surrendered to the ISAFP. "He was not arrested, especially not by the Philippine National Police under the DILG. Therefore, it is epal to the highest level for Sec. Abalos to be seemingly taking credit for the non-existent arrest," he said in a statement.

Quiboloy was flown to Metro Manila and taken to the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City. In a press conference there, Philippine National Police spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said that Quiboloy surrendered after the PNP issued an ultimatum that he must turn himself in within 24 hours.

Charges

TIMELINE: Apollo Quiboloy's legal troubles 

Quiboloy is facing charges under Section 5(b) and  Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

He is also facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended, before a Pasig court.

He has also been indicted by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.

Quiboloy went into hiding after the Senate issued an arrest order against him for failing to attend its hearings.

The PNP deployed around 2,000 personnel to serve the warrant against Quiboloy in the KOJC compound.

An arrest warrant was also served on the KOJC's property in Kitbog, Sarangani Province.

TIMELINE: The search for KOJC leader Apollo Quiboloy

As the police combed the KOJC property over the course of several days, hundreds of KOJC members and supporters rallied outside the compound to protest the police's presence.

Some filed a complaint against the police, saying they sustained injuries during the police operation. On August 24, the day the police started their search, a male KOJC member died, with the police saying he passed away from a heart attack.

Quiboloy lawyer Torreon called on the police to "stop their harassment" and to leave the compound and said Quiboloy was not there.

KOJC members also protested the excavation allegedly conducted by authorities at the basement of the Jose Maria College (JMC) Building inside the compound. 

Quiboloy's allies, the Duterte family, came to his defense. Vice President Sara Duterte condemned what she called the "gross abuse of police power," while her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, said that the Philippines "has never been in a more tragic state" than the day the police went to the compound to serve the warrant.

Last Thursday, the Court of Appeals (CA) in Cagayan de Oro City declared a temporary protection order in favor of KOJC null and void.

'We did not doubt'

According to Police Regional Office 11 chief Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III, Quiboloy was found where the police had suspected, but he declined to elaborate as he said further details would be released in official statements.

“Hindi naman tayo nagduda du'n eh [We did not doubt]. There’s no doubt that he’s here. Napag-aralan natin, kaya medyo humaba ang ating paghahanap dahil napakalaki ng lugar,” he said in an interview.

(Our search took longer because the place was so big.)

“Ako’y nagpapasalamat kay Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for the realization na ito na talaga ang tamang gawin, harapin na talaga ang batas [I thank Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for the realization that this is the right thing to do, to face the law],” he added.

In the same interview, Torre thanked members of the KOJC for their cooperation, as he said he hopes that this would be the start of healing.

“May mga pagbabangayan siguro, hindi pagkakaintindihan, at mga engkwentrong maliliit lang naman. So I do hope that this will be the start of the healing at hindi magkaaway. Hindi niyo ako kaaway,” he said.

(There may have been some squabbles, disagreements, and some small encounters. So I do hope that this will be the start of the healing and no longer fight. I am not your enemy.)

“I just played my role. Ito po talaga ang ibinigay sa akin na role, ito po ang ibinigay sa akin na trabaho, kung kaya’t ginawa lang ho natin ito [this is the role given to me, the is the job given to me, so we just did it] in accordance on how we do it our way,” he added.

'Mananagot ka'

In a statement, Senator Risa Hontiveros lauded the law enforcement agencies that conducted the search "for their tireless efforts and dedication, despite Quiboloy's tactics."

"Mananagot ka, Apollo Quiboloy. You cannot outrun the law. You will not further delay justice," she said. 

"Abot kamay na ng mga victim-survivors ang hustisya, salamat sa kanilang paglalakas-loob na magsabi ng katotohanan."

(Justice is within reach for the victim-survivors, thanks to their courage in coming forward with the truth.)

In a separate statement, ACT Teachers Representative and House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro urged the government to ensure Quiboloy is prosecuted.

"The arrest of Apollo Quiboloy must lead to his full accountability before the law. The charges against him, both in the United States and the Philippines, are grave and demand thorough investigation and prosecution. Justice must be served for the victims of these heinous acts," she said.

In another statement, Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas said those who aided Quiboloy must be brought to justice as well. "This includes a thorough investigation into any possible involvement of individuals in positions of power who may have shielded him from accountability," she said.

"Let this be a reminder to Quiboloy that he is not a God. Harapin niya ngayon ang taumbayan. [Let him now face the public]," she added.

Ako Bicol Representative and House appropriations committee chair Elizaldy Co, meanwhile, praised the PNP's use of ground-penetrating radar.

"This is the first time I am aware of that that kind of radar has been prominently used by our law enforcers," he said.

"The House leadership under Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez will make sure the PNP is given more of these tactical field equipment in their annual budgets.

"The PNP also needs more air assets, including unmanned drones equipped also with ground penetrating radar and infrared night vision." — Mariel Celine Serquiña and Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM/KG, GMA Integrated News