PNP: Police were ready for final assault to arrest Quiboloy

The police tasked to arrest Pastor Apollo Quiboloy were ready to swoop down on the KOJC compound on Sunday afternoon for an assault meant to arrest the religious leader facing child abuse and trafficking cases.

According to Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras," what could have been a bloody police operation to get Quiboloy was averted when a C-130 plane arrived at the nearby Davao City airport.

Police Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, the regional director of the police in Davao region, said the National Headquarters told him of high-level surrender negotiations as early as 10 a.m. on Sunday.

He said he decided to hold off the assault until 3 p.m.

“2:45 p.m. actually tumayo na lahat ready for assault. So nakarinig kami ng tawag sandali, sandali lang, pakihintay lang at tinatapos lang," Torre said.

"Wala akong nakikitang eroplano rito, in 30 minutes kapag walang eroplanog maipakita sa akin or kahit ng flight directive or whatever ng kung ano man plane tutuloy ang assault ng 3:15 p.m.," he added.

(By 2:45 p.m., all stood up in preparation for the assault. I received another call asking for more time. I said I don't see an aircraft here. Unless I see a plane or a flight directive in 30 minutes, the assault will start at 3:15 p.m.)

The operation was averted when the military's C-130 plane arrived at the airport.

The authorities said Quiboloy came out of hiding in a convoy that took them to the waiting aircraft.

PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil said Torre was bent on proceeding with the assault.

“Sabi ko Nic... to make sure kung meron man mamamatay tingnan natin basta walang bata," Marbil said.

(I told Nic to make sure that there be no children if there would be fatalities.)

Videos and photos of Quiboloy and his co-accused undergoing booking procedures were blurred before they were released to the media.

Even their mugshots were also blurred.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos belied claims that Quiboloy didn't emerge from the KOJC compound.

"Kwentong kutsero 'yun," Abalos said. "Alam niyo kung bakit? Eh, nasa labas ka na eh 'di tumakas ka na. Antagal niyo sinasabing hindi siya magpapahuli hindi ba?"

(That's a coachman's tale. Do you know why? If he was already outside the compound, he could have already made good his escape. You've long been reporting that he wouldn't allow himself to be captured.)

Abalos said Quiboloy sent the surrender feelers because he was already surrounded.

"For me it makes no difference kung sumuko ka man kasi 'yun na 'yun eh, tactically napaligiran ka na," Abalos said.

(For me, it makes no difference if he gave himself up because tactically, he was already surrounded.) —NB, GMA Integrated News