The Philippine National Police (PNP) has expanded its manhunt operations against embattled Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused in the sexual charges and other cases filed against them.
In a press conference in Quezon City on Saturday, Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said the manhunt operations against Quiboloy are no longer limited in Davao Region.
She said the PNP is now closely working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in hunting down the fugitive in other parts of the archipelago.
“Sa ngayon po ay hindi na lamang po limited sa Davao Region iyong ginagawa po nating paghahanap. Even dito sa Metro Manila and other areas are also [covered]. Information are also being validated to confirm the possible location of not only Pastor Quiboloy, but with other accused as well,” Fajardo told reporters.
Fajardo said that they are on track as far as the manhunt operation is concerned.
PNP Chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil revoked on April 16 the gun permit of Quiboloy, giving the doomsday preacher six months to surrender his firearm as stated under Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Fajardo said there will be corresponding police action if Quiboloy fails to surrender his firearms.
“There will be a corresponding police action pertaining to these firearms because as soon as napirmahan po ng ating Chief PNP ang resolution, this is immediately executory, although they have the right to file their motion for reconsideration,” she said.
“But pending of their MR (motion for reconsideration) po, iyon pong mga baril na ito since hindi na po siya lisensyado at nai-revoke na po, these are already considered loose firearms, then subject for police operation, if necessary,” she added.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently disclosed that Quiboloy is still in the Philippines.
No extradition yet
Last week, the Philippine Embassy in the United States confirmed it has not received any request for the extradition of embattled pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
“So far there has been none. Usually, it will come to us but it can also go to the US Embassy,” Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said in an interview on
Wednesday afternoon (Washington D.C. time).
The envoy, however, said there are law enforcement representatives in the US Embassy in Manila who can make the request directly to the Department of Justice.
“There is a warrant for his arrest right now so I think first and foremost, they have to serve that first,” he said.
“Now, if a case is in fact against him in the Philippines, then the extradition will probably have to take a backseat so it depends really on the Philippine government," he added.
Quiboloy, founder and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, was indicted in November 2021 for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children, and is currently on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's wanted list.
The victims, according to the indictment, were recruited to work as his personal assistants or "pastorals" and were allegedly directed to have sex with him during "night duty."
A Pasig regional trial court issued warrants of arrest against Quiboloy and five others in relation to qualified human trafficking charges this year.
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