POLICE have discovered intricate passageways, explosives and deadly weapons inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) compound in Davao City as they continue the search for its leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on Thursday afternoon, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. presented videos taken during the first days of the search, which showed complex structural designs of buildings inside the 30-hectare estate.
Abalos said police discovered a secret passageway that leads to another room and at least 42 buildings inside the compound.
"This is now the secret door at dito ka ngayon papasok sa kuwartong ito (and you will enter this room). Nandiyan ang kuwarto ni Pastor Quiboloy. Liliwanagin ko lang, iilan lang yan. Hindi lahat puwede namin ipakita, iilan lang yang mga secret passage at yung mga nakikita namin (That is where Pastor Quiboloy's room is. I would like to clarify those are only a few of the passages. We cannot show everything. We only saw some of them)," he said.
Abalos also showed video clips of another building under construction inside the property.
He said he is coordinating with the Davao City Engineer's Office to determine if all rooms and passageways inside the compound were included in the construction plan submitted by the group to city authorities.
He also showed photos of homemade firebombs and machetes found on the roof deck of a building.
Quiboloy's supporters also put up electrified barbed wire inside the compound.
Davao regional police spokesman Maj. Catherine dela Rey expressed confidence that Quiboloy was still hiding in the compound.
"We will never bomb or destroy your structure because we are not after the structure, we are not after the church, and we are not after the members. Implementing the warrant of arrest is our job, and we are ordered by the court to do so," she assured the KoJC followers.
Several social media posts warned that the police would bomb the cathedral inside the compound.
Dela Rey also said Quiboloy's followers pointed lasers at police helicopters hovering over the compound.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) "strongly condemned the recent actions of KoJC members who have been using laser devices against PNP helicopters," she said on Facebook.
"Such behavior is a direct threat to the safety and operational effectiveness of our law enforcement aviation units. The use of lasers against aircraft is not only dangerous but also a clear violation of aviation safety regulations and legal standards," she added.
Dela Rey also warned the evangelist's supporters against obstructing or delaying the search for their leader.
About 30 KoJC members were charged following a scuffle with police that injured some 60 officers.
Police are trying to serve arrest warrants on Quiboloy and others for alleged sexual abuse of children and human trafficking.