MANILA, Philippines – One of the co-accused of controversial religious leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in his human trafficking and child abuse charges has been arrested in Davao City Thursday.
Israelito Torreon, lawyer of the embattled Kingdom Of Jesus Christ group, confirmed that Paulene Canada was arrested in her home in Buhangin district past 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 11.
In a press conference, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said Paulene Canada was arrested about two kilometers away from the regional police headquarters.
Addressing Quiboloy, Abalos said “Lumiliit na ho ang mga pinagtataguan ninyo… Hindi ho titigil ang kapulisan, ang military, ang buong puwersa ng gobyerno para kayo ay dakipin.”
“Please, kung talagang wala kayong kasalanan, sumuko na kayo,” he added.
In an interview, Torreon said the capture was captured on video but upon calling Davao police authorities no one replied.
Apparently, he was even told that Canada’s arrest was “fake news.”
On Monday, Abalos announced a P10 million bounty for Quiboloy and a million each for his co-accused; Canada, Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Ingrid Canada, and Sylvia Cemanes.
The reward was a “big help” in the arrest of Canada, said Abalos.
“Ito ay galing sa mga pribadong tao. Hindi ho binibigay sa akin ito. Sila mismo ang magbibigay doon sa tao, informant,” he said.
Meanwhile, Quiboloy’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio questions the nature and the enormity of the bounty and even sought to challenge the interior secretary to produce the sources of the funds for the bounty.
Topacio also denied having any knowledge on the whereabouts of his client and will only continue representing him in court.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte, a close ally of the pastor even said he knew where Quiboloy was hiding but he wouldn’t tell.
The government was not able to serve warrants to Quiboloy because the latter went into hiding.
The religious leader has earlier denied allegations against him in court in the cities of Davao and Pasig and said these were only accusations made by dismissed members of the Kingdom Of Jesus Christ.
