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SOLDIERS have been deployed to help in the standoff between cops and a wanted preacher’s diehard cult followers in the Philippines.
Apollo Quiboloy – the self-proclaimed “owner of the universe” – is being hunted down by officials with fears growing he may have fled his underground hideout using a secret tunnel.
Anti-riot cops are clashing with diehard cult followers in the Philippines over the arrest of a wanted preacher
AP
Rows of beds with clothes and pillows can be seen inside the underground complex officials say Quiboloy was hiding in
AFP
Quiboloy is on the FBI‘s most wanted list after being accused of human trafficking, child and sexual abuse with the Philippines government ordering his arrest.
On Saturday, over 2,000 officers in riot gear stormed the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound where they say Quiboloy was hiding out.
They were halted by a human shield made up of Quiboloy’s brainwashed followers blocking off the gated area.
Authorities say the cult leader had burrowed himself almost 100ft beneath his church.
Whistleblowers have testified in the past that they were held in the “sex lair” after being coerced into a sexual relationship with Quiboloy, report the Daily Tribune.
Many brave women who have come forward say they were first taken underground at “a young age”.
Quiboloy denies all the allegations against him.
The violent clashes have now entered the sixth day with the Philippine National Police sending even more cops into Davao.
The Davao regional command director for police community relations Roderick Augustus Alba says the extra forces first rolled in on Tuesday evening.
Further help has also been gifted in the form of Philippines Armed Forces.
Lieutenant General Luis Rex Bergante, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said his troops are set to contribute in the mission to find Quiboloy .
Police say they will not leave until they have the man but reports suggest the leader may have already fled his hideout.
Colonel Jean Fajardo from the national police claims to have received intel saying the compound is connected to several secret tunnels.
One of them reportedly leads to Quiboloy’s private hangar which is believed to be outside of the sprawling complex, report One news.
Fajardo said: “This tunnel connects to the hangar and we are watching it to make sure the subjects of the warrants of arrest can’t escape.”
Who is Apollo Quiboloy?
APOLLO Quiboloy is a preacher in the Philippines who is known for his Kingdom of Jesus Christ cult group.
The spiritual leader has claimed in the past that he is the “son of God”.
He sensationally managed to convince his diehard fans that in 1973 he was approached by God who whispered to him “I will use you”.
In 2019, he even declared that his powers helped to stop a major earthquake from hitting southern Philippines.
Many residents believed his words and were taken under Quiboloy’s wing.
But in 2021, the US Department of Justice charged him with sex trafficking of children, fraud and coercion and bulk cash smuggling.
Years of investigations left him accused of trafficking his followers to the US to gain donations for his hoax charities.
Authorities also say he has allegedly ordered his female and underage followers to have sex with him by citing it as part of their religious duties.
The FBI released a wanted poster for Quiboloy in 2022.
In the Philippines, he has also been charged with human trafficking and sexual harassment relating to the alleged abuse of a teenager in 2011.
Quiboloy said the “devil” was responsible for the allegations against him.
He blamed the FBI of trying to “meddle” with his case.
The preacher shot to fame in the Philippines when he started to work for former President Rodrigo Duterte as his spiritual adviser.
After Duterte stepped down in 2022, Quiboloy continued to gain followers to his Christian cult.
He now claims to preach to over seven million people.
Officers arrived to the church with specialist equipment over the weekend in order to arrest the controversial religious teacher.
Drilling equipment and other tools that can detect people behind walls were all seen outside the church.
Before any of the equipment could be used Quiboloy’s passionate followers started to cause havoc for the cops.
Constant yelling and questioning of the raid managed to hold back officers who couldn’t break the human shield that surrounded the gate to the compound.
Tear gas was even used against Quiboloy’s followers who had become “unruly and violent”, Davao police spokesperson Major Catherina dela Rey told Rappler.
A court order to arrest the evangelist preacher remains in place.
Israelito Torreon, Quiboloy’s lawyer, told ANC news that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound has been turned into a garrison.
In the chaotic melee, a Kingdom of Jesus Christ supporter reportedly had a fatal heart attack.
Officers confirmed the death was unrelated to anything done by cops in the operations.
The huge raid was livestreamed by a local TV network owned by the group with dozens of those in the cult filming on their phones.
A major highway in Davao which links to the airport has also been partially blocked off.
Quiboloy said back in April: “I am not hiding from the charges because I am guilty. That’s not true. I am just protecting myself.”
It comes as the Philippine National Police released footage of officers inside the chilling compound.
Footage shows rows of beds surrounded by concrete walls where officers say Quiboloy may have kept women hidden away.
The dingy conditions looks as though it has been recently left abandoned with pillows and bottles among the litter piling up on the floors.
As cops make their way through the dark building more bedrooms are shown to be of a better quality with TVs, neon lights and sofas.
EPA
Trubune
EPA
FBI
Getty
English (US)