MANILA, Philippines – Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and four other personalities surrendered to authorities in Davao City after the 24-hour ultimatum given by the Philippine National Police, its spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said on Sunday.
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| Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Photo courtesy: childrensjoyfoundation / Benhur Abalos (Facebook) |
Fajardo said the negotiation for their surrender started around 1:30 p.m. when they issued a ultimatum to come out of one of the buildings inside the 30-hectare KOJC compound in Buhangin District or the police will make their move.
The embattled pastor and his colleagues gave up at 5:30 p.m. Then, a military aircraft C-130 flew them out of Davao City at 6:30 p.m. and they landed at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at 8:30 p.m.
They arrived at Camp Crame in Quezon City around 9:10 p.m.
“I confirm that Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his aides, Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Cresente Canada and Sylvia Cemañes, are here,” Fajardo told reporters outside the PNP custodial center. "It is a joint effort of the police and the military."
Fajardo said they are in good condition except for the high blood pressure of some.
Quiboloy and his aides will be in the same compound as former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, a suspected Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) cohort who was detained last Friday after her arrest in Indonesia.
It was Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos who broke the news of arrest of Quiboloy in a Facebook post on Sunday.
Read: Pastor Apollo Quiboloy arrested, Abalos says
Quiboloy is currently subject to three arrest warrants. One was issued by the Senate in March, while the other two were issued by courts in Pasig City and elsewhere in April, related to allegations of sexual abuse, child abuse, violence, and human trafficking.
KOJC lawyer explains why Quiboloy surrendered
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Atty. Israelito Torreon of KOJC described Quiboloy’s act as his “ultimate sacrifice.”
“He could not bear to witness a second longer the sufferings that his flock was experiencing for many days,” Torreon said.
“Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy was actually waiting for positive results vis-a-vis the legal remedies that his lawyers opted to avail, hence, he was out of reach for a number of days,” he added.
Quiboloy's last public appearance and statement was earlier this year, when he accused the Marcos administration and the United States of a "conspiracy" to "eliminate" him.
— The Summit Express
