Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, Inc. founder and leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on March 12, 2022. Roemari Lismonero, Presidential Photo/File

MANILA -- Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday expressed her belief that Apollo Quiboloy, the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, is no longer in Davao City.

This comes as the Philippine National Police continues its search for the pastor at the KOJC compound.

"Mahaba 'yung panahon na pwede siyang umalis na sa Davao City, dahil mahaba din 'yung grandstanding na nangyari doon sa Senate committee hearing," Duterte told Davao media. 

"So napakataas ng time na pwede niyang pag-isipan kung allis na ako o hindi. Isa din 'yun sa dapat pag-isipan ng administrasyon," she added.

KOJC malayang nakapaggunita ng anibersaryo sa kabila ng operasyon laban kay Quiboloy

Asked about the whereabouts of Quiboloy, Duterte joked that he is already in heaven.

"One guess kung nasaan si Pastor Quiboloy? Nasa langit na siya," she said.

Quiboloy, a close spiritual adviser of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, is accused of sex-trafficking girls and women aged 12 to 25 to work as personal assistants, or "pastorals", who were allegedly required to have sex with him. The 74-year-old pastor and five other defendants have been charged with qualified human trafficking and other acts of child abuse.

Quiboloy has denied the charges, saying the women made up the charges after he rejected them. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has also 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.

"Isang lugar lang ang lagi kong napapasukan, yung studio at cafe. Doon lang ako nakapunta. Di ko alam kung merong mga bunker diyan sa ilalim," she said.

READ: Underground movement in KOJC compound not caused by rats -- DILG

Duterte also believes that police have committed abuse of authority in conducting the arrest warrant against Quiboloy, but adds that it is something to be determined by the court.

"Pero kung opinion lang nako ang inyong pangutan-on, definitely, dunay abuse of authority dinha. Di na nato kinahanglan isa isahon pa ang nakita nato nga kalapasan nga nabuhat para lang mag-implement og search warrant," she said.

[Pero kung opinion ko lang ang inyong tatanungin, definitely, may abuse of authority diyan. Hindi ko na kailangang isa-isahin pa ang nakita nating mga paglabag na nagawa nila para lang ma-implement ang search warrant.]

Duterte said the implementation of a warrant of arrest should be swift despite the size of the place, considering that the PNP deployed a huge number of personnel.

Police Lt. Col. Jerick Filosofo, spokesperson of Task Force Teknon Alpha Pro 11, previously said that the complexity of the compound poses challenges to them.

READ: Search reaches 7th day, still no sign of Quiboloy

"Magtataka ka 9 days na, hanggang ngayon hindi pa sila tapos sa pag-implement ng warrant of arrest nila. Dapat mabilis yon kasi totoo yan at tama yan, naaapektuhan ang imahe ng Davao City. At naaapektuhan ang negosyo ng mga tao," said Duterte. 

Duterte also attended the 39th anniversary celebration of the KoJC on Sunday evening inside the compound.

She believes that her visit to the controversial church will not be politicized as she is a Davaoeño and a Vice President.

"Ug duna koy duty nga i-comfort ang mga members sa KOJC sa ilang kalisod nga ginaagian karon," she said. 

[At may duty ako na i-comfort ang mga members ng KOJC sa kanilang hirap na dinaranas ngayon.]

"Ang mensahe natin sa mga Dabawenyo ay to uphold the rule of law and to call out always constitutional violations, or violations sa ating batas and the implementation of warrant of arrest," she added. -- with a report from David Dizon, ABS-CBN News

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