Sara: Quiboloy may no longer be in Davao

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte, who has been criticizing the government for its attempts to arrest wanted pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), on Sunday said it was possible that the controversial preacher has already left Davao.

“He had so much time to leave Davao City, because the grandstanding in the Senate committee hearing also took a long time,” Duterte was quoted as saying in an ABS-CBN News report.

The inquiry into KOJC and Quiboloy’s involvement in large scale human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, violence and child abuse began with a resolution filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros in December 2023.

Despite subpoenas, Quiboloy – who is accused of trafficking young girls and coercing them to have sexual relations with him – never attended the hearings held between January and March.

“So he had so much time to think if he would leave (Davao) or not. That’s one of the things the administration should think about,” Duterte said.

The Vice President and her family have ties with Quiboloy, a friend and “spiritual adviser” of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte, who has been criticizing police presence in the KOJC compound, made her speculations on Quiboloy’s whereabouts as the police continue to search for the pastor in Davao City.

“It makes you wonder how it’s been nine days and until now, police have yet to consummate the implementation of the arrest warrant. It should be done quickly because it will affect the image of Davao City and it will affect the livelihood of many people here,” she added.

Duterte was present at KOJC’s anniversary celebration on Sunday inside the KOJC compound, which pushed through despite the arrest warrant implementation.

Addressing hundreds of attendees, the Vice President thanked the religious group and credited them for much of her family’s success.

Duterte also reiterated her apology for asking the KOJC to support Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when he ran for the presidency in 2022.

“I was on the mistaken belief that we were together on the platform of unity and continuity. I made a mistake and I ask for your forgiveness,” said Duterte, who ran with Marcos under the UniTeam ticket.