Police resumed their search for Apollo Quiboloy “amid stiff resistance” in his broad Davao City property, which he is suspected to be hiding in a network of underground passageways, following demands from his followers to suspend the hunt to commemorate their group’s 39th anniversary on Sunday.
Police began searching Apollo Quiboloy on August 24 to serve search warrants for him and his four associates on counts of sexual assault and human trafficking.
Catherine dela Rey, a spokesman for the Police Regional Office (PRO) XI, informed reporters that the leadership of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) asked for a temporary pause to police operations to detain their leader to ensure that they may celebrate their anniversary last Sunday.
The police officers agreed to cease their operation but did not depart the KOJC property.
Dela Rey stated that the three-and-a-half-hour “very peaceful” anniversary celebration began with worship and culminated in an address by Vice President Sara Duterte.
“There were no untoward incidents related to the 39th anniversary celebration,” Dela Rey said.
She stated that the Vice President’s presence at the KOJC anniversary did not affect their operations. “We respect her presence because all of us can support any group,” Dela Rey explained.
Photo courtesy: Inquirer