September 1, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — A week after thousands of police officers raided the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said they have yet to penetrate an underground bunker where fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused are believed to be hiding.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said police have only inspected the secret passageways in buildings on the grounds of the 30-hectare compound.
“We have not yet penetrated the underground facility because it is really dug deep in the ground,” she said over radio dwPM.
She added police searching for Quiboloy have yet to locate the entry points to the bunker.
Another challenge is the materials used in the construction of the structures that can withstand man-made and natural disasters.
“The underground facility is built like it’s ready for a doomsday scenario with the use of thick stones and metal,” she said.
Fajardo said it is an open secret in Davao that the compound has an underground bunker, even with consistent denials from KOJC members.
At least 2,000 police officers are involved in the manhunt for Quiboloy, who is wanted for qualified human trafficking and child abuse.
From the information they have gathered, Fajardo said the underground facility was used by Quiboloy to hide from law enforcement authorities who are out to arrest him.
Fajardo said police have searched only around half of the compound. Among the challenges she cited is the fierce resistance of Quiboloy’s followers.
Police are using ground-penetrating radar and other high-tech equipment to find the evangelist.
Fajardo renewed her call to Quiboloy to surrender instead of prolonging the manhunt against him, stressing he should spare his followers who are already exhausted after a week of protecting him.
If they have nothing to hide, Fajardo said Quiboloy’s supporters should not impede the inspections being conducted by police officers in the compound.
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