A preacher accused of sexual abuse and human trafficking is believed to be hiding from police in a secret underground bunker.

Drilling equipment has been brought in by police in the southern Philippines trying to arrest Apollo Quiboloy, the leader of a religious sect called Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).

Police were initially unable to find Mr Quiboloy, 74, on Saturday when 2,000 officers stormed the KOJC headquarters in Davao City.

But the preacher, who is on the FBI’s most-wanted list, is still believed to be at the 75-acre complex, hiding with a gang of supporters in a subterranean chamber, 30 metres down.

The raid also sparked days-long clashes between Mr Quiboloy’s supporters and police in riot gear outside the compound.

The authorities have so far been unable to locate the entrance to the bunker so they have turned to digging equipment in a bid to unearth it.

The depth assessment is based on radar equipment that is able to detect heartbeats behind walls. It appears to show the presence of 20 to 30 people around 30 metres below the ground.

Police Brig Gen Nicolas Torre III, who led the raid, said: “We won’t leave here until we get him.”

The sprawling compound was reported to house a labyrinthine network of underground tunnels and passages.

It also has a hangar with a taxiway leading to the neighbouring Davao international airport.

Towering over the compound is the 75,000-capacity KJC King Dome. Built as a cathedral for the sect, it also hosts sports events and concerts.

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.

“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.”

During the search, two people, who police believe to be human-trafficking victims, were also rescued.

Mr Quiboloy, who calls himself the “appointed son of God”, is subject to arrest warrants from courts in both the Philippines and the US. Law enforcement agencies have been hunting for him for months.

In 2021, the US department of justice charged him with sexual trafficking of children and other serious crimes including fraud and coercion, money laundering and bulk cash smuggling.

Prosecutors alleged he had sex with women and underage girls who faced threats of abuse and “eternal damnation” if they refused.

Mr Quiboloy and his lawyer have denied the criminal allegations against him and his religious group, saying they were fabricated by critics and disaffected former members.

He has accused the US authorities of prejudging his case.

His supporters have been involved in violent confrontations with the police since the weekend and have blocked major roads to the compound with cranes and a fire truck.

Some have been filming police actions on their phones and yelling at officers. Others were reported to have flung chairs and bottles at police.

Authorities said 18 people were arrested for obstruction of justice, while one person died of a heart attack. Six police officers were injured in the clashes.

The KOJC purports to have seven million followers.

Hearing God whisper to him

Mr Quiboloy claims to have set up the group in Davao after hearing God whisper to him “I will use you” while attending an event by Billy Graham, the American pastor, in South Korea in 1973.

He grew his following through radio, televangelism and social media.

When he is not in Davao, he has been seen travelling on his private jet.

He was reportedly a spiritual advisor to Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, who has criticised previous arrest attempts by large numbers of officers as overkill.

Ferdinand Marcos, the current president, has urged Mr Quiboloy to surrender and assured him of fair treatment by authorities.