PNP: Search of KOJC compound ‘halfway through’

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, Philippine News Agency

IN POSITION. Anti-riot police position themselves along the road facing the Jose Maria College, located inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound, in Buhangin District, Davao City on Thursday (Aug. 29, 2024). The police officers kept the peace as the search for fugitive KOJC leader Apollo Quiboloy entered the sixth day. (PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.)

MANILA – The police are now halfway through with its search at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City to find Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is believed to be hiding inside the facility, the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) spokesperson said.

“Earlier, per my talks with Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Director of Police Regional Office-Davao, I asked how far they reached in their search. According to him, they have inspected more or less 40 to 50 percent of the facility. Remember this is more than 30 hectares,” Col. Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The search for the KOJC leader, who is wanted for child abuse and human trafficking, is now on its seventh day.

“There are buildings that have yet to be inspected, although their particular focus right now are the areas where signs of human life are detected using some equipment and devices,” Fajardo said.

She said the police are having a hard time searching for an underground facility, which is “made of thick stones, thick metals and hard materials that was built and made to withstand any man-made calamity or even natural disasters”.

She, however, refused to divulge further information so as not to jeopardize the search operations.