An associate of the embattled Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) controversial leader Apollo Quiboloy was nabbed by authorities while two others surrendered on Wednesday, April 3.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) served the warrant of arrest issued by the Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC) against the doomsday preacher and five others involved in the charges of child abuse and sexual abuse in KOJC's compound in Davao City.
However, Quiboloy, its founder, was not on the premises. Instead, authorities arrested one of his close aides identified as Cresente Canada, the barangay chairman of Tamayong where the KOJC is based.
Meanwhile, the preacher's two other associates Paulene Canada, former KOJC chief financial officer, and Sylvia Cemañes, a coordinator, later surrendered to the police. The three are currently in the custody of NBI.
Authorities said the hunt for Quiboloy and two others – Jackielyn Roy and Ingrid Canada – will continue.
Police-Southern Mindanao Director Alden Delvo said he believed Quiboloy was still inside the country, specifically in his “safe haven” in Davao City.
"We are hoping that in the coming days, he will come out. We are hoping that the lawyers would be able to convince their client to submit himself, since there is a lawful warrant of arrest issued against him by the court," he said.
Last month, the Senate also issued an arrest warrant against the preacher for his non-appearance in the probe of the alleged abuses of Quiboloy and his “church” the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Quiboloy is also included in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's wanted list "for his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders."
