A former member of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy’s alleged private army, the so-called “angels of death,” is in police custody, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.
“Mayroon po tayong indibidwal na hawak po ngayon na sinasabi na siya ay dating miyembro diumano ng angels of death,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing.
(We have an individual in custody now who is said to be a former member of the angels of death.)
“Pinatotohanan niya iyong mga lumabas na before sa atin na itong grupo na ito ay nagagamit para sa personal interest ni Apollo Quiboloy at sila mismo ang pinangtatakot sa mga biktima,” he added.
(He confirmed that this group is being used for the personal interest of Apollo Quiboloy and they are the ones who are being used to scare the victims.)
Fajardo said the supposed former male member of the “angels of death” disclosed specific cases but the PNP spokesperson declined to provide additional information, citing his and his family’s security.
He also claimed to know more people who are part of Quiboloy’s private army, Fajardo said, adding that authorities are set to contact them.
The “angels of death” were mentioned by Quiboloy’s alleged rape victims who came forward to the police.
According to the PNP, the victims said they were warned that if they tell anyone about their sexual encounters with Quiboloy, they will be hunted by the “angels of death.”
GMA News Online has sought comment from KOJC legal counsel Israelito Torreon on the matter, but he has yet to provide a statement as of posting.
Torreon earlier said the existence of a private army controlled by Quiboloy was “not true.”
“If this is true, then this private army would have surely been unleashed during the 16 days KOJC siege where the members were subjected to so much violence and tramplings of their constitutional and human rights,” he had said.
“Yet, you never saw even one of them brandish a firearm in order to retaliate against the policemen. Instead, you saw bread and food being given to the policemen by the KOJC members. Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy has millions of private prayer warriors not a private army,” he added.
Philippine Army Deputy spokesperson Colonel Rey Balido on Tuesday said Sonshine Media Network (SMNI), the KOJC’s media and broadcasting arm, was accredited as an affiliated reserve unit of the Philippine Army in 2015 and assigned the unit designation of 2nd Signal Battalion.
Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala said the 2nd Reservist Signal Battalion has 540 reservists, including two officer reservists and 538 enlisted reservists.
Up to 200 of them are Davao-based, according to Dema-ala.
SMNI legal counsel Atty. Mark Tolentino said some SMNI staff had been trained for the reserve force “as Filipino” and “not as private army of KOJC.”
“Nag-training lang some staff ng SMNI sa reserve force. Not as SMNI staff, but as Filipino. I am also a reservist. We complied [with] all the requirements to be part of the reservist as a Filipino, not as private army of KOJC,” he said.
(Some SMNI staff just trained in the reserve force. Not as SMNI staff, but as Filipinos. I am also a reservist. We complied with all the requirements to be part of the reservists as a Filipino, not as a private army of KOJC.)
Quiboloy is currently detained in the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Arrest warrants were issued against Quiboloy and others for alleged violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act as well as qualified human trafficking.
Quiboloy and his other co-accused pleaded not guilty to these cases.
He has also been indicted by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.
Quiboloy’s camp has repeatedly denied the allegations against him. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
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