Cops fail to arrest Quiboloy during search of properties

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Heavily armed operatives of the police Special Action Force (SAF) and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) swooped down early yesterday on several properties owned by accused sex offender and human trafficker Apollo Quiboloy to serve arrest warrants for him and his accomplices, but went away empty handed.

In full battle gear, SAF commandos and CIDG operatives of Region 10 barged into several compounds owned by Quiboloy, but failed to find him and four of his alleged accomplices and members of his Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) religious sect identified as Ingrid Canada, Pauline Canada, Inteng Canada and Jackie Roy.

The compounds were in Davao City, Samal Island and Sarangani.

These were KOJC’s main compound beside the Davao International Airport, Prayer Mountain in Barangay Tamayong, Glory Mountain in Purok 6, Barangay Tamayong; QSands Baptismal Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal and the Kitbog Compound in Malungon, Sarangani.

Quiboloy lawyer Israelito Torreon said the situation started to become tense at around 3:45 a.m. when members of the raiding team – using ladders – scaled the high fence and gates of the KJC main compound on Diversion Road in the city to gain access to the sprawling property.

Followers of Quiboloy in the compound initially tried to stop the raiders but eventually relented.

CIDG and SAF members reportedly rounded up workers found inside the compound and did body searches on them.

The raiding teams also searched the premises of the Jose Maria Colleges, its dormitories, the Bible school, as well as the hangar where Quiboloy’s airplane and helicopters were kept.

Quiboloy has standing warrants of arrests from the Davao City and Pasig City courts for child sexual abuse and human trafficking.

Police Regional Office XI spokesperson Maj. Catherine dela Rey told The STAR in a phone interview that they were able to serve the warrants “peacefully” despite resistance from some of Quiboloy’s followers.

Torreon said the police were carrying only warrants of arrest but proceeded with searches on KOJC premises without presenting search warrants.

“They did not have a search warrant, only arrest warrant,” he said