No ‘staged’ raid on Quiboloy compound – NBI

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday said its operatives were out to serve a warrant of arrest issued against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy when they visited the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound last week.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said that contrary to claims that his men “staged” a raid on the compound, NBI Region 11 Director Archie Albao and his men went to the KOJC to serve the arrest order issued by the Quezon City regional trial court against the religious leader for sexual abuse charges.

The visit, Santiago said, was in response to the statement of Police Regional Office 11 chief Gen. Nicanor Torre that Quiboloy was hiding inside the KOJC compound.

Santiago said he gave instructions to Albao to ensure that the operation was peaceful.

“We want the operation to be peaceful and my instruction, kung andun si Quiboloy, if you can convince him to surrender peacefully, do it. Walang dadanak na dugo,” he said.

Former KOJC pastor Arlene Stone, one of the complainants against Quiboloy, has accused Albao of conducting a supposed “moro-moro” raid on the KOJC compound last Friday, noting the alleged lax approach of the NBI agents.

Santiago said: “Sinasabi ni Ms. Stone na hocus pocus ito (Ms. Stone says that the raid was a hocus pocus), but it’s not.”

Stone has claimed that the raid was purportedly part of efforts to sabotage the Quiboloy case by NBI officials supposedly loyal to the religious leader and his political allies.

She alleged that Albao has close ties to Quiboloy and former president Rodrigo Duterte, adding that she had supposedly routinely handed envelopes filled with cash to Albao when she was still a member of the group.

Santiago defended Albao, saying the latter has his full trust.

“I still trust my regional director there who is only doing his job. I’m sorry Ms. Alice Stone, but your accusation has no basis,” he said.

The NBI chief also downplayed Stone’s accusation that Albao received bribes from the KOJC, saying the regional director may have received cash as assistance to the agency, but not as a bribe.

“Ano bang masama na tumulong sa government agency? Kahit ako sasabihin ko thank you (What is wrong with a government agency