The Philippine National Police (PNP) gave fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy an “ultimatum” to surrender within 24 hours otherwise law enforcement authorities would enter a tightly guarded building inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) Compound in Davao City that fateful Sunday, September 8.
This was the key turning point that led to the peaceful end of a 16-day manhunt for the wanted religious leader and his cohorts, who stand accused of child abuse, among other serious offenses, according to PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo.
In a brief interview with reporters at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Fajardo gave a detailed timeline of how the events unfolded, which led to police officers securing the custody of Quiboloy and his four co-accused:
1:30 PM | The PNP issued a final warning to the KOJC leader to surrender peacefully, otherwise it would be forced to break into a particular building, which remained off limits to law enforcement personnel searching for Quiboloy.
Fajardo declined to provide detailed description of this facility, but confirmed it was during this moment that negotiations between police and military officers and the KOJC community started. “We gave them an ultimatum that they need to surrender within 24 hours and a negotiation took place,” she said.
5:30 PM | Police officially secured the custody of Quiboloy and four of his co-accused—Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente Canada, and Sylvia Cemañes. Authorities found them inside the KOJC compound, Fajardo said.
This development sheds light on the suspicion of PNP-Davao regional director Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III, who ordered the tense manhunt to serve the warrant of arrest on the fugitive pastor, beginning August 24 or more than two weeks ago.
6:23 PM | Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. broke the news on his official Facebook page without giving any details. His initial information was Quiboloy had been arrested.
6:30 PM | Quiboloy and his co-accused boarded a C-130 plane from Davao City bound for Villamor Airbase in Pasay City. Shortly thereafter, Torre faced reporters welcoming the development. He deferred the details to the DILG chief, who made the announcement.
“We never doubted that he (Quiboloy) is here,” Torre told reporters. He explained that the operations went that long because of the sheer size of the KOJC compound and its complex layout. In the end, he is grateful that the fugitive preacher came to his senses and decided to surrender.
8:30 PM | The C-130 plane carrying Quiboloy and his colleagues landed at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City. Security measures were heightened onsite, according to reporters. Soon it was learned that they were heading straight to the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
9:10 PM | Quiboloy and his cohorts arrived at the PNP Custodial Center. Fajardo said they immediately went through the customary booking process, including fingerprinting and mugshot, as well as physical and medical examination.
Fajardo told reporters that all of them were in good health, although some registered high blood pressure upon examination. “Other than that, they are all okay, and the processing continues as we speak,” she said.
Quiboloy is facing charges of child abuse, sexual abuse and qualified trafficking. Fajardo said he and his co-accused were read of their Miranda Rights “in front of their lawyers” in accordance with due process.
What happens next?
Fajardo attributed this positive outcome to the effective collaboration of the PNP Intelligence Group and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP). “It was a joint effort that led to the peaceful surrender of Pastor Quiboloy and four others,” she said.
“We are grateful for the peaceful process.”
When asked regarding the custodial arrangements, the PNP spokesperson said these are still being finalized but they would most likely be detained in separate units. She told reporters they will provide additional details as soon as they are available.
“What is important right now is that they are in the custody of the PNP… Tomorrow (Monday), we expect their warrants of arrest to be returned to the issuing courts, particularly in Quezon City, where the cases we filed in Davao have been transferred, as well as in RTC (regional trial court branch) 159,” Fajardo noted.
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