PNP: Quiboloy search definitely included areas he frequented

To serve the arrest order on Apollo Quiboloy, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday emphasized that their search included places the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader frequented.

In a press conference, PNP Spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said she nevertheless could not divulge these specific areas to avoid preempting their operations.

“Definitely, yung mga identified areas na frequented before ni Pastor Quiboloy will definitely be considered,” Fajardo said.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that Quiboloy was just in the Tamayong Prayer Garden.

“Nand’yan lang ‘yan sa Tamayong. Malaki lang ang Tamayong (He’s just there in Tamayong, though it is a big place),” he said.

Duterte added that it would be difficult for authorities to find Quiboloy in Tamayong as they would need a search warrant for every house in the area.

“Ang Tamayong, malaki ‘yan. Sa loob, maraming bahay. Make sure na sa isang bahay nand’yan s’ya because for every bahay, it should be a different search,” he said.

However, Duterte later denied knowing Quiboloy’s exact whereabouts.

Authorities earlier visited Quiboloy’s properties in Davao City and Samal Island, but they did not find him.

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

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

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

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

The Senate held a hearing 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, he added.

President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed that the proceedings against 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 denied the accusations against him. — DVM, GMA Integrated News