Fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy on Sunday decided to surrender to the chief of military intelligence instead of police authorities, who for over two weeks, have been turning the 30-hectare Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City inside out in search of him.
The televangelist handed himself over to Maj. Gen. Edmundo Perlata, chief of the Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), after apparently realizing that there was no escaping the thousands of lawmen that have converged upon his albeit sprawling headquarters.
Soon after his surrender, the flamboyant religious leader was immediately put aboard a government plane and whisked off to Manila.
It was initially thought that Quiboloy would be brought to the ISAFP headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
However, he was brought to nearby headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame instead.
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. broke the news of the KOJC leader’s being taken into custody via a Facebook post.
“Nahuli na po si Apollo Quiboloy (Quiboloy has been caught),” he said in an online post that was stingy in details.
The post came with a photo of a slimmer Quiboloy with an Arab keffiyeh (headgear) around his neck and posing beside his attorney, Israelito Torreon.
However, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, who also represents the preacher, pointed out that his client gave up willingly.
“Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, voluntarily surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, specifically the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces, or ISAFP. He was not arrested, especially not by the Philippine National Police under the DILG. Therefore, it is ‘epal’ to the highest level for Sec. Abalos to be seemingly taking credit for the non-existent arrest,” he said in a statement sent to journalists.
In an interview, Police Regional Office-11 director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said he never doubted that Quiboloy was still in the KOJC compound despite efforts by the pastor’s legal counsel and other supporters to suggest otherwise.
“The reason why it took so long is because of the sheer size of the compound. We had to study it… and we learned [the layout of the compound]. I am thankful to Pastor Quiboloy for finally realizing that this was the right thing to do… to face the law,” said the man who led the 16-day manhunt for the elusive pastor.
Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement on Sunday night that Quiboloy will definitely be held accountable for his misdeeds.
“You cannot outrun the law. You will not further delay justice,” she said.
The senator has been leading the Senate investigation into the alleged trafficking, violence and sex-related offenses perpetrated by Quiboloy against members of the Kingdom Of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
Hontiveros stressed that justice is now within the reach of the victim-survivors.
She thanked them for fearlessly coming out and revealing their ordeal in the hands of the pastor.
“We commend our law enforcement agencies for their tireless efforts and dedication, despite Quiboloy’s tactics,” she said.
She said the Senate will continue its investigation to put an end to the abuses on the most vulnerable sector of the society.
She noted that Quiboloy’s days of “acting like a king, playing with our laws and abusing women and the youth” have ended.
The televangelist has an arrest warrant issued by the Senate for his failure to attend the hearings on cases being hurled against him.
Simultaneously, Quiboloy is facing charges under Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
He is also facing a non-bailable case for violation of Republic Act No. 9208 or qualified human trafficking, before a Pasig court.
