The search for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” who is facing abuse and human trafficking charges, entered its 4th day Tuesday as law enforcers have yet to finish the search, citing challenges such as secret passages and darkened areas inside the 30-hectare sprawling Kingdom of Jesus Christ property.

Police Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police, said police units from other regions have arrived at the KOJC compound early Tuesday to replace law enforcers who have joined the search since Saturday, August 24. 

Ground penetrating radar also showed life signals coming from underground, indicating a possible hidden bunker, she said.

“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang search. Medyo nahihirapan tayo dahil ‘yung namomonitor nating signal using the ground penetrating radar ay gumagalaw. Sinusundan natin itong signal na ito but we’re still confident na matutumbok din natin itong nasa ilalim ng lupa na sinusundan natin,” she said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

“Pasikot-sikot 'yung daan...May mga secret passages, may mga lugar na madidilim na kailangang ilawan that lead to hallways. These are the challenges na hinaharap namin at hindi kakayanin ng isa o dalawang araw itong ating paghahanap,” she added. 

KOJC chief legal counsel Atty. Israelito Torreon has denied police statements that there is an underground bunker in the KOJC compound, saying “heartbeats” allegedly detected from underground were either pipes or a rat.

“Ako matagal na po akong abogado ng KOJC, ‘di ko alam na may bunker pala yan so I tried to convince them na that is not true of course they have their own version perhaps to legitimize their continued illegal stay in the premises of KOJC. Allegedly may heartbeat daw pero yung pag-open kasi eh tubo pala, yung pangalawa eh daga,” Torreon said.

'Rat, pipes' in alleged bunker of Quiboloy: KOJC lawyer

Police can stay at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City if they have reasonable ground that Quiboloy is inside the premises and if authorities have yet to finish their search, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines national president said Tuesday.

IBP national president Atty. Antonio Pido, meanwhile, said the time frame for a police search inside the KOJC compound would depend on the size of the property as well as if police have reasonable ground that Quiboloy is still inside.

“How long they would have to stay there to look for the person to be arrested depends on the actual size of the premises. For example, a 100-square-meter condominium would be easy to search. But this is 30 hectares or about 300,000 square meters and then you have structures inside. It really depends on how difficult it is to search the place,” he said in Filipino.

Pido said the KOJC leadership can also file a case against the police if there is evidence that the operation was being done in bad faith and if the owner has suffered irreparable injury. “They have to prove that,” he said.

Quiboloy, a former spiritual adviser of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, earlier rejected summons by a Senate panel inquiry investigating the alleged abuse and trafficking of female KOJC members by the controversial pastor and top leadership.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier placed Quiboloy on its most wanted list for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of children and bulk cash smuggling.

Apollo Quiboloy, founder of Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, indicted for sex trafficking
Quiboloy accused by former follower of running 'child sex ring'
Quiboloy, 2 others in related cases placed on FBI’s most wanted list

The US Treasury Department earlier said Quiboloy allegedly recruited “pastorals” or young women within the KOJC selected to work as his personal assistants in the US and the Philippines who are allegedly required to have sex with the pastor.

US Treasury sanctions Quiboloy, around 40 others for 'corruption, human rights abuse'

Quiboloy has denied sexually abusing female personal assistants or pastorals, saying the women made up the accusations after he rejected them.

"Ako po ay hindi nag-asawa. Ngayon inaakusahan ako ng napakaraming babae. Eto po ang kasalanan ko. Pinayaman ako ng Panginoon. Akala nila sa akin, single ako, kaya pinag-aagawan ako. Pagkatapos na ako'y maghihinde, mapapahiya, ibabaliktad nila sa akin,” he said in a Facebook video.

Quiboloy accuses alleged rape victims of 'Potiphar's wife syndrome'

In the interview, the PNP spokesperson appealed to the Davao City local government to help defuse the tension after KOJC supporters blocked the national highway of Buhangin, Davao City Sunday evening.

LOOK: KOJC members block highway, gate of compound

At least 18 people were arrested and are set to face charges of violation of the Public Assemby Act of 1985, Fajardo said.

18 arrested as PNP disperses Quiboloy followers blocking Davao City road

The PNP earlier said it will file charges against KOJC members who hurt 6 police officers who were looking for Quiboloy in the KOJC compound.

Fajardo earlier said they have video evidence that some KOJC members harmed themselves to frame the police.

“May hawak na video po tayo ngayon na nagpapakita meron silang doon isang lugar mismong mga miyembro ang nagsusugat sa kapwa miyembro na para ipakita at isisi sa mga kapulis na galing ung injruiy nila. Pero on the contrary ang mga pulis natin ang minumura, tinatadyakan, sinasaktan at lahat ng klase ay natatanggap ng ating kapulisan,” she said.