A 51-year-old member was confirmed dead amid the police search for the fugitive religious leader Apollo Quiboloy at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) Compound in Davao City.
During an interview with DZRH News on Sunday, Police Regional Office 11 Spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey reported that a member had died but later clarified that the death was not related to the implementation of the arrest warrant for Quiboloy.
Dela Rey explained that the man had been lacking sleep and under significant stress for days from conducting surveillance at the back of the compound.
"Yung patient po ay may history na po ng sakit at ilang araw nang puyat at pagod dahil walang tulog, dahil s'ya ang nagbabantay sa tower ng KOJC," Dela Rey said.
"More than 15 minutes after his collapse bago po sila [KOJC members] tumawag ng ambulance," she added.
Furthermore, when the medical staff arrived, the members did not permit the medical team to touch the patient, stating that the team might not be aware of what they were doing.
"Nung nakita nilang need na talaga, trinansport na sa hospital sa SPMC subalit po nakakalungkot na nadeclare po ‘yung patient na dead on arrival ng attending physician due to cardiac arrest," said Dela Rey.
Meanwhile, Dela Rey clarified that the number of deaths was not seven, as previously reported by members of the KOJC due to alleged teargas from the police.
On Saturday morning, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 11 officers conducted a manhunt operation, for the second time, at the compound to serve an arrest warrant against Quiboloy, with over 2,000 police units entering the premises.
