Apollo Quiboloy has been arrested

Interior Minister Benhur Abalos uploads this photo to his Facebook account showing lawyer Israelito Torreon (center) and fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy (far right), who is now in the custody of authorities as of Sunday night. —Screenshot of Benhur Abalos’ Facebook post

MANILA, Philippines — Fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy has been arrested, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. announced Sunday.

Abalos published the news in a short post on Facebook, but did not provide details about Quiboloy’s arrest.

“NAHULI NA PO SI APOLLO QUIBOLOY,” his post read.

READ: KJC lawyer criticizes police tunnel construction activities in complex

Article continues after this advertisement

He also posted a photo of the religious leader with the same caption.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Solon asks authorities to dismantle Quiboloy’s ‘Davao mafia’

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office 11 Chief Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III said a plane had arrived in Davao City, but clarified that he was not sure if the plane was used to pick up the fugitive.

“I think so, I would like to think that this story will go to Davao dahil pinasundo ng eropplano and maybe send a convoy to pinalabas to KJC,” Torre said at a press conference held shortly after Abalos made the announcement.

(I think so. I’d like to think Quiboloy came from Davao, since a plane came here and a convoy was ordered to leave the KJC compound.)

“Basta namataan natin ang C-130 na nag-landing sa TOG (Tactical Operations Group) 11 pagkatapos may utos sa atin na palabasin ng siyam na sasakyan dun sa hangar papunta sa loob ng airport pina-guide ng ating AVSEU (Aviation Security Group) unit natin dinala sa erplano,” he added.

(We saw a C-130 aircraft land at TOG 11 and then we were ordered to get nine vehicles out of the hangar that were going to the airfield. Our AVSEU unit asked to escort the vehicles to the aircraft.)

Torre also thanked Quiboloy for his “insight” to “do the right thing.”

“There is no doubt that he is here, napagaralan natin kaya lang medyo humaba ang ating paghahanap dahil napakalaki ng lugar at ako’y nagpapasalamat kay Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for the realization na ito na ang tamang gawin,” he added.

(There is no doubt that he is here, we have studied this, but the operation took longer than expected because the area is huge. I am also grateful to Quiboloy for this realization that this is the right thing to do.)

INQUIRER.net attempted to get more information from Abalos, but as of posting, he had not responded.

Regarding reports that Quiboloy has been arrested or has reportedly turned himself in to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said they “leave it to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide details on the situation.”

“The AFP has fully supported the PNP since the beginning of the operation in the case of Mr. Apollo Quiboloy. Our role in this case was purely to support the PNP’s efforts to execute the warrant,” Padilla’s statement said.

“Since this is primarily a police operation, we will let the PNP provide details and updates on the situation. The AFP remains committed to assisting our law enforcement agencies in maintaining peace and order whenever necessary,” she added.

On April 3, a regional trial court in Davao ordered the arrest of Quiboloy and his five subordinates. They are accused of violating the Child Abuse Act, specifically the provision on sexual abuse of minors and molestation.

A few days later, on April 11, a Pasig City court also issued an arrest warrant for the self-proclaimed “appointed son of God” for aggravated human trafficking, a non-bailable offense.

On August 24, about 2,000 PNP members stormed the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) compound in Buhangin district of Davao City to execute arrest warrants against the religious leader.

Authorities first raided the KJC complex on June 10, but members of the religious sect stopped them.