Detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The alleged 鈥淎ngels of Death鈥� of detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy were found to have a gun license, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PNP Civil Security Group (CSG) spokesperson Lt. Col. Eudisan Gultiano said this was learned by authorities after the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) submitted the list of alleged members of the Angels of Death for verification.
鈥淲e received the request [from DCPO] yesterday (Tuesday) and the verification is ongoing,鈥� Gultiano said in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Wednesday.
READ: Quiboloy invoked God in abusing minors, based on testimonies 鈥� PNP
鈥淪ome individuals in the list are licensed, and the others do not have records in the FEO,鈥� she also said of the PNP鈥檚 Firearms and Explosives Office.
Gultiano said they are awaiting the request for revocation of their gun licenses pending the results of the investigation.
On Tuesday, the Philippine Army said it will 鈥渃losely coordinate鈥� with law enforcement agencies to verify reports claiming that some of its reservists are part of the 鈥淎ngels of Death鈥�, according to its spokesperson Col. Rey Balido.
READ: PH Army probes report about Quiboloy using troops as 鈥榓ngels of death鈥�
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo first made the revelation regarding the 鈥淎ngels of Death,鈥� which, she said, was revealed by a new batch of victims who sought police鈥檚 help.
Furthermore, Quiboloy allegedly warned the victims鈥攕ome as young as 12 to 13 years old鈥攖hat an 鈥淎ngel of Death鈥� will get them if they break the code of secrecy regarding the religious leaders鈥� alleged sexual crimes, according to Fajardo.
Mark Tolentino, Quiboloy鈥檚 legal counsel, on Thursday vehemently denied the accusation regarding the 鈥淎ngels of Death.鈥�
鈥淧astor Quiboloy has no private army,鈥� Tolentino said in a recent chance interview when asked to react to Fajardo鈥檚 revelations.
Israelito Torreon, Quiboloy sect鈥檚 Kingdom of Jesus Christ鈥檚 legal counsel, also denied this.
鈥淧astor Apollo C. Quiboloy has millions of private prayer warriors, not a private army,鈥� Torreon was quoted by Quiboloy-affiliated SMNI as saying.
鈥淚 pray that this is not a launching pad for future murder cases against Pastor ACQ,鈥� he also said.