Police troop to KOJC compound in Davao City to arrest Quiboloy

Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel trooped to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City on Saturday morning to serve an arrest warrant on KOJC leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Hundreds of personnel from the PNP Regional Office XI (PRO 11) were seen at the entrance of the KOJC compound in Buhangin District before dawn, according to a report of Jaycel Villacorte of Super Radyo Davao on Dobol B TV.

PNP Region XI director Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III said they plan to force their way into the compound.

Police then entered the compound at around 4:50 a.m., according to PRO 11 spokesperson Police Major Catherine dela Rey.

PRO 11 said 2,000 cops from PRO 10, 11, 12, and 13 were deployed for the operation, according to a report of GMA Regional TV One Mindanao.

"Nandito sa loob [si Quiboloy]. Hinahanap namin," said Torre in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

([Quiboloy] is here inside. We are looking for him.)

"Dalawang warrant of arrest ito sa mga kaso nila. Sa bawat warrant, tigli-lima sila... Kasama rin ang mga co-accused niya sa hinahanap natin," Torre said in an interview.

(There are two warrants of arrest for their cases. For each warrant, there are five [Quiboloy and four co-accused]. We are also looking for his co-accused.)

Security was tightened by police at the compound, with no one allowed to enter it without Torre's go signal. KOJC members on the other hand were allowed to leave the compound if they want.

Additional personnel from the PNP Civil Disturbance Management were deployed at the compound entrance.

"Sana sumurrender na siya (Quiboloy). Makikita at makikita rin siya. It's just a matter of time. Pahihirapan pa niya supporters niya," he added.

(We hope he would surrender. He will be found. It's just a matter of time. He will just give his supporters a hard time.)

Torre said there are 42 buildings in the KOJC compound. One of the buildings is five hectares long.

Dela Rey told Super Radyo dzBB, "Thorough search ang aming gagawin."

(We will do a thorough search.)

She also said they received information that Quiboloy is inside the compound.

Dela Rey added that KOJC has underground facilities.

"May dalang kagamitan ang pulisya para matunton ang mga tagong area sa compound," she said.

(Police have equipment to reach the hidden areas of the compound.)

"Gusto rin namin na sa pagpapatupad namin ng batas ay walang masaktan," dela Rey added.

(We also want that no one will get hurt when we implement the law.)

Tension in the compound

Atty. Israelito Torreon, one of the lawyers of Quiboloy, said police showed him the alias warrant of arrest when they arrived at around 3:45 a.m.

"Ipinakita sa akin ang alias warrant of arrest sa RTC Quezon City. Ang ginawa nila ngayon, ang dami nila (pulisya), mga 2,000 sila, ongoing ang search nila," Torreon said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(They showed me the alias warrant of arrest from QC Regional Trial Court. There are many of them, 2,000 cops. The search is ongoing.)

Asked if Quiboloy is in the KOJC compound, Torreon said, "So far wala pa silang nakita pa dito (they did not find anyone yet)."

"Wala pa [naaresto ang pulis o ebidensiyang nakuha]. Wala pa silang nakita rito, despite the fact that more than an hour na sila nagse-search dito," he said.

(They have not arrested anyone or found any evidence despite the fact that they have already been searching for more than an hour.)

Torreon said tension arose when some police entered the back of the compound by destroying the gate and used tear gas even while he was still talking to the police at the front of the compound.

"Habang nakikipag-usap siya (Torre) sa amin sa harap, warrant of arrest lang pinakita niya, pumasok na pala sa likod 'yung kanyang ibang mga tao... Nagkaroon ng tensiyon kasi while they were giving us around 30 minutes e du'n sa harapan, e may pumasok na du'n sa likod at giniba 'yung portion ng gate at nag-tear gas," the lawyer said.

(While Torre was talking to us at the front [of the compound] and he showed us a warrant of arrest, some of his men entered the back of the compound. Tensions arose because they were giving us 30 minutes when we were discussing in front, yet some cops entered the back, destroyed a portion of the gate and used tear gas.)

Torreon said he saw two KOJC members who fainted and were being given medical attention near the cathedral.

"May nakita ako mismo na dalawang tao from KOJC at binibigyan sila ng medical attention doon sa may cathedral ng KOJC...May mga na-heart attack. At kanina, may narinig ako, hindi ko pa confirmed, mayroon ata daw dalawang namatay. And I am still confirming the news po," he said.

(I saw two people from KOJC being given medical attention near the cathedral of KOJC. There were those who had heart attack. And earlier, I heard, but have yet to confirm, that two people died. I am still confirming the news.)

Ambulances were seen going in and out of the compound, GMA Regional TV One Mindanao reported.

PRO 11 spokesperson Police Major Catherine dela Rey told Super Radyo Davao that a patient was indeed brought to the hospital.

"Kanina, may dinala sa ospital sa SPMC (Southern Philippines Medical Center) na isang patient," she said.

(One patient was brought earlier to SPMC.)

"Ongoing pa rin ang pagse-serve natin ng warrant of arrest at pag-search sa compound ng KOJC," dela Rey said.

(The serving of warrant of arrest and search in the compound of KOJC is ongoing.)

Before noon on Saturday, police confirmed that one male KOJC member died of heart attack during the police operation.

Surrender?

Meanwhile, Torreon said Quiboloy's lawyers will assert the rights of their client.

"Of course we will assert the rights of our client. Pang-ilan na nila itong tangkang service ng warrant of arrest na ito. Inexplain namin na sana mayroon na sanang certification ang NBI na na-serve na nila 'yung warrant of arrest pati 'yung alias warrant of arrest," he said.

(This is their nth attempt to serve the warrant of arrest. We explained that there should be a certification from the NBI that the warrant of arrest including the alias warrant of arrest has already been served.)

"Pero sabi kasi ni Gen. Torre na hindi ito ang panahon o lugar na makipag-debate siya as to whether or not the warrant of arrest has been served. Ang sabi niya, whether we like it or not, ise-serve daw nila ang warrant of arrest. 'Di na kami nakipag-away eh kasi masyado siyang determined to serve the warrant," he added.

(But Gen. Torre said this is not the time nor place to engage in debate as to whether the warrant of arrest has already been served. He said whether we like it or not, they will serve the warrant of arrest. We did not contest that anymore because he was really determined to serve the warrant.)

Torreon said he has no idea if Quiboloy will surrender to authorities.

"I really do not know what is in the mind of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy because I have not talked to him," he said.

The PNP attempted to serve a warrant of arrest last June 10, 2024 against Quiboloy in Davao City.

Police used ladders then to enter the compound and this caused tension between police officers and KOJC missionaries who were waiting outside the compound. 

The KOJC members stressed that the move was meant to intimidate and coerce Quiboloy.

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

Quiboloy has denied the accusations against him.

READ: TIMELINE: Apollo Quiboloy's legal troubles

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. told Quiboloy last July to show up and face the accusations thrown against him.

A reward worth P10 million is being offered for any information that will lead to the KOJC leader's arrest, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said. — BAP/KG, GMA Integrated News