Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos and Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia signed a Memorandum of Agreement on the Kontra Bigay Program on October 11, 2023. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday said it “would have to investigate” reports that several members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) subjected some police to frisking before allowing them to search fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy in the church’s compound in Davao. 

PNP Region 11 Director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III earlier told senators that police officials had to “endure that kind of humiliation” in a bid to search for and serve a warrant against the KOJC leader, who is wanted for sex trafficking and fraud.

Senate to probe Quiboloy hunt

“Parang mali naman yata yung pulis pa yung kakapkapan,” Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said in a news forum.

“I would have to investigate this, anong circumstance dito,” he said.

Authorities previously faced violent protests from KOJC members who have been trying to stop police operations in the compound because “emotions are very high,” Abalos said.

“Bumaba na ang emotions, nakakagalaw na ang pulis at nahahanap na siya,” he said, noting that authorities have scoured more than half of Quiboloy’s 30-hectare compound.

“Ang intel report namin ay nandoon pala. We’ve got good developments right now na hindi ko lang puwede sabihin sa inyo,” he said.

While the PNP has failed to locate the fugitive pastor for weeks, the DILG chief maintained that he would “leave it with Torre to find Quiboloy.”

“I fully support the PNP kasi they know better than me, I support them,” Abalos said.

“Definitely, hindi kami titigil hangga’t hindi mahanap si Quiboloy kasi yan ang sinasabi ng warrant of arrest: hanapin si Quiboloy at gagawin namin at hahanapin namin siya maski saan man siya magtago,” he added.

Vice President Sara Duterte — whose family has been close with Quiboloy for decades - earlier said that she is not convinced that the televangelist is still hiding in Davao City.

READ: VP Duterte believes Quiboloy no longer in Davao

READ: Quiboloy still inside KOJC compound despite VP's pronouncement, says PNP

But the Department of Justice (DOJ) said that Immigration personnel have yet to spot Quiboloy leaving the Philippines’ gateways, underscoring that a hold departure order has been issued against the pastor since June.

“We assume that he is still here,” DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano told reporters.

Quiboloy, a self-proclaimed "Son of God", was charged by the US Justice Department in 2021 with sex-trafficking of girls and women aged 12 to 25 to work as personal assistants, or "pastorals", who were allegedly required to have sex with him.

In June, the Philippine justice department charged Quiboloy with sexual abuse. Quiboloy and five other defendants have also been charged with qualified human trafficking and other acts of child abuse.

Quiboloy said he wanted a written guarantee from the Philippine government that "there will be no American interference and no extraordinary rendition" in the case if he surrenders to face charges in the Philippines.

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