THE chief of the Davao police regional office yesterday hinted of the imminent arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy and his cohorts, who are wanted for sexual abuse and human trafficking charges.
Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III made the remarks as police efforts to locate and subsequently arrest Quiboloy and his co-accused at the KOJC’s 30-hectare compound in Davao City entered its 11th day yesterday.
“We’ll get him soon. It’s just a matter of time,” Torre said in a press briefing, adding: “Up to now, we believe that he is just there (inside the compound), laughing at us. Go ahead, there is always a time for everything.”
“We are still looking for him. I believe he is just inside, going around (the underground facility),” he said.
Thousands of policemen swooped down at the KOJC compound last August 24 to serve arrest warrants against Quiboloy and the others, who the police said are hiding at an underground facility inside the property.
Torre said policemen continue to face resistance from the followers of Quiboloy, delaying the search.
“They are distracting us from what we are doing. They are brainwashed,” he said.
Last Sunday, Vice President Sara Duterte said she believes that Quiboloy is longer in Davao City, pointing out that the fugitive pastor had a lot of time to leave the city because of the grandstanding in the Senate, which is investigating complaints against the religious leader.
Torre said information provided by informants suggest Quiboloy is still holed up inside the compound.
He likewise repeated that there are “indicators” that the information they have is accurate.
The regional police official criticized Quiboloy, who has proclaimed himself as a son of God, for evading justice and using his followers to protect him.
Torre said unlike the KOJC founder, Jesus Christ did not hide and even let himself to be crucified when he was persecuted.
“The challenge is simple, face the cases (against you). They’ve been saying the cases are weak (so answer them),” said Torre.
Torre likewise said he is not threatened by the threat of lawyer Israelito Torreon, a lawyer of the pastor, to file charges against him in connection with alleged PNP abuses committed during the ongoing operation.
“Bring it on. I am not like his boss (Quiboloy) who went on hiding. I’ll face these cases. If I end up in jail, so be it,” he said.
