PNP Intelligence Group’s role in capture of Quiboloy cited
OFFICERS and men of the Regional Intelligence Unit 11 of the Philippine National Police-Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) have been cited for the major role they played in ‘pressuring’ Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and his four co-accused to surrender.
The five were arrested from the Bible School of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City where they hid for over two weeks.
The PNP-IG, headed by its Officer-in-Charge, Brigadier General Romeo J. Macapaz, provided the accurate intelligence information that the wanted KOJC founder and company were hiding inside the ACQ College of Ministry inside the KOJC compound in Buhangin, Davao City.
It turned out that PNP-IG operatives managed to monitor the presence of all identified staff of Quiboloy including his personal cook, driver, nurse, doctor and other utility men inside their Bible School since day 1 of the massive police operation to arrest the suspects.
“Quiboloy’s personal staff has been there since day 1. They never left the place and their presence in the area really convinced us that the pastor was there and they were taking good care of him,” said an official involved in the operation to get Quiboloy.
After Police Regional Office 11 director Brig. Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III issued a ‘final ultimatum’ on Quiboloy’s lawyers that they are giving them 24-hours to yield or their Bible School will be assaulted by members of the PNP Special Action Force and the PRO-11 Regional Mobile force Battalion and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, the pastor’s lawyers, led by Israelito
Torreon, started negotiating for the surrender of the fugitives from law.
Around 5:30 p.m. last September 8, the 74-year-old Quiboloy finally surrendered and whisked away to a C-130 transport plane that transported him to Manila.
The pastor also wished not to see his tormentor–Brig. Gen. Torre.
His four co-accused–Cresente Canada, 56, a former chairman of Brgy. Tamayong, Davao City; Ingrid Canada, 66, the chief administrator of the KOJ Nation; Jackielyn Wong Roy, 41, a Missionary/KOJC member and lead singer of their choir; and Silvia Cemañes, 43, also a missionary/KOJC member/NCR coordinator–also emerged from the same facility and were also taken to the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame onboard the same plane.
Warrants of arrest were earlier issued against Quiboloy and other co-accused for alleged violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act as well as qualified human trafficking.
Quiboloy has also been indicted by a federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Central District of California for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.
Quiboloy’s camp has repeatedly denied the allegations against the KOJC leader who remained locked-up at the PNP Custodial Center while his four co-accused have been transferred to the Pasig City Jail on orders of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 159.
The Journal Group earlier learned that the powerful text message sent by Brig. Gen. Torre to Quiboloy’s lawyers prompted the surrender of the accused and their eventual arrest.
“Boss good morning. Kamusta? Just to inform you na all gloves are off na tayo ha. Si Sen. Bato na mismo nagsabi na dapat armado ang searchers so please expect it especially the SAF and the SWAT.
At lahat na haharang aarestuhin namin sir. Pasensya na po talaga. Tapos na ang pagbibigay. Salamat boss. Good luck and God bless us all…”
That was Torre’s message.
Journal Group sources said that the warning was aired before noon. Terrified, the accused decided to emerge from their Bible School where a KOJC vehicle with a police official inside picked up Quiboloy while other police officers rode a 2nd vehicle used by the four other suspects.
The message by Torre served like a lightning strike against Quiboloy and company that prompted them to leave their Bible School.
Brig. Gen. Torre confirmed that 500 heavily-armed commandos from the PNP Special Action Force and 500 other troopers from the PRO-11 Regional Mobile Force Battalion and the Special Weapons and Tactics were just waiting for the go-signal to storm the building until feelers were sent by Quiboloy’s camp that they will surrender.
Last week, PNP chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil awarded the PNP Medalya ng Katapangan or the PNP Medal of Bravery to the police officers and men led by Brig. Gen. Torre for their feat.
Other officers and men of the more than 2,000-strong force that secured the KOJC compound will also be awarded for their role in the successful operation.
Gen. Marbil and Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. earlier praised Torre and other top PRO-11 officials, Davao City Police Office chief, Colonel Hansel M. Marantan, Brig. Gen. Macapaz and PNP Director for Intelligence, Major Gen. Westrimundo D. Obinque for their successful effort to get Quiboloy and company.
