Cult followers threw chairs at police as thousands of officers descended on a compound in the Philippines to arrest a controversial preacher.

More than 2,000 cops joined the operation to take Apollo Quiboloy, 74, into custody at his 30-hectare estate which houses his alleged harem of sex slaves in Davao City. They were impeded by fanatics from the Kingdom of Jesus Christ members, who threw chairs and bottles containing foul water at them.

Authorities said 18 people were arrested for obstruction of justice, while one person died of a cardiac arrest during the operation in which six policemen were also injured. Quiboloy - wanted by the FBI - remains at large.
18 people were arrested (
Image:
CERILO EBRANO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Police colonel Jean Fajardo, spokesman of the Philippine National Police, said: “The search is still ongoing. We are having a few difficulties because the signal we are monitoring using the ground-penetrating radar is moving.

“We are following the signal and we're still confident that we will find the source. The path is winding. There are many secret passages and routes that lead to hallways.

“These are the challenges we are facing, and one or two days are not enough to complete the search. Officers said they were using equipment able to detect people's heartbeats through walls.”
The preacher escaped, despite the number of police at the scene (
Image:
CERILO EBRANO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

During the search, two people believed to be human trafficking victims were also rescued.The KOJC compound was reported to house a labyrinthine network of underground tunnels and passages, and even a hangar with a taxiway leading to the Davao International Airport.

Quiboloy, who calls himself the Appointed Son of God, is wanted by the FBI for alleged sex trafficking of children, sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling. He grew his following through radio, televangelism, and social media.

Quiboloy has ties with the powerful Duterte family ruling local politics in Davao City. He served as spiritual adviser to the former President Rodrigo Duterte and allegedly enjoyed the politician's protections until he stepped down in 2022.