MANILA — The search for fugitive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound could take a few more days, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Friday, as experts confirm underground movement that could not have come from rats.

DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos Jr. said the agency is tapping all manner of equipment and experts to pin down the exact underground location of Quiboloy and his accomplices. Police have been searching for the fugitive pastor at the 30-hectare KOJC compound since August 24.

“Nakita namin na talagang sa ilalim ng lupa may mga tunnel po dito…Hindi natin masasabi na may tumitira pero may  mga gumaglaw, May mga activities sa ilalim ng lupa. Napakalalim,” he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

He debunked claims that penetrating radar was only picking up the heartbeat of rats. “Heartbeat at galawan, hindi ito pang daga,” he said.

Abalos declined to give more details, adding only that law enforcers are checking the KOJC building plans to aid the search.

“Siguro mga ilang araw na lang ito,” the DILG chief said.

Quiboloy, a former spiritual adviser of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, has standing arrest warrants for human trafficking issued by a Pasig City court. He and 5 co-accused are also facing child abuse cases before a Davao City court.

KOJC legal counsel Israelito Torreon earlier said Quiboloy refuses to surrender because there is a threat that he could be sent to the US to face sex trafficking charges there.

The US Justice Department charged Quiboloy in 2021 with sex-trafficking of girls and women aged 12 to 25 to work as personal assistants, or "pastorals", who were allegedly required to have sex with him.