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A PREACHER being hunted down by cops is believed to be hiding out in an underground bunker protected by his diehard followers.
Apollo Quiboloy – the self-proclaimed “owner of the universe” – is on the FBI‘s most wanted list after being accused of human trafficking, child and sexual abuse.
EPA
Reuters
Trubune
AP
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has deployed 2,000 officers in riot gear to find the influential cult leader in the city of Davao.
Authorities say Quiboloy has burrowed himself almost 100ft underground in a secret hideout that lays beneath his church.
Whistleblowers have testified in the past that they were held in the 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”.
The sprawling Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound covers 75 acres in the south of the Philippines and consists of 40 buildings.
Cops stormed the area on Saturday with riot shields, helmets and batons but were halted by a human shield made up of Quiboloy’s brainwashed followers.
Stones have reportedly been launched at officers with burning tires discovered near to the standoff, Davao police say.
The violent clashes have now entered the fifth day with the 74-year-old still said to be inside the bunker.
The preacher is beloved by millions of people in the religious country and is said to have a large sway over the politics.
Quiboloy denies all the allegations against him.
His lawyer says the claims have been fabricated by his group’s critics and former members.
Officers arrived to the church with specialist equipment this 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.
Police say they will not leave until they have Quiboloy.
Israelito Torreon, Quiboloy’s lawyer, told ANC news that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound has been turned into a garrison.
EPA
FBI
AFPIn 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.
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.
I am not hiding from the charges because I am guilty. That’s not true. I am just protecting myself
Apollo QuiboloyBut 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.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has urged Quiboloy to surrender to cops and has assured him he will be treated fairly.
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