Quiboloy’s lawyers slam ‘continuing violation’ of protection order for KOJC

GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – Lawyers for the Apollo Quiboloy-led Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) criticized the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday, August 29, accusing authorities of violating the rights of people uninvolved in the cases against the doomsday preacher and four of his followers, who are wanted on child abuse and trafficking charges.

“We admit there is a warrant of arrest. But the demand to surrender is not a license to trample on the rights of other individuals, their lives, liberties, and properties,” KOJC lawyer Israelito Torreon said at a news conference live-streamed on several social media platforms in Davao.

Torreon condemned the ongoing police operations at the KOJC, calling them a “continuing” and “contemptuous” violation of a temporary protection order issued by a Davao court on Tuesday, August 27.

He said the police operations at the sprawling property have disrupted classes at the Quiboloy group’s school, Jose Maria College (JMC), as well as religious services and activities at the KOJC Cathedral. He added that freedom of movement has been restricted for six days.

“This is too much,” Torreon told reporters. “Please, that’s enough. Please leave.”

He said police brought in more equipment in boxes starting around 4 am and began drilling at the school in search of a supposed bunker. He added that authorities had previously drilled at the KOJC Cathedral.

On Wednesday, August 28, Judge Mario Duaves of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 in Davao released a supplemental and clarificatory order to emphasize that the protection order issued a day earlier “did not cancel or nullify the processes related to warrants of arrest.”

“Both serve different purposes and are not contradictory,” read part of the supplemental order.

The Davao court added that an arrest warrant should be enforced in a manner that is “necessary and reasonable.”

Another KOJC lawyer, Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes, said she and three other lawyers were initially prevented from entering the property.

“It’s been six days. 3,000 troops. In the first few days, even we, when this started, couldn’t get in. I will ask you: Is that still reasonable? The fact that some of our members are sleeping on the streets – is that still reasonable? If you’re looking for one man and using 3,000 troops, is that still reasonable?” Tolentino-Fuentes said.

Police-Davao Director Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III said about 2,000 police personnel were deployed to the area on Saturday for the manhunt for Quiboloy and four other fugitives. Police sent over 1,000 others from different regions this week as reinforcement.

‘Failed mission’

Torreon accused the police of engaging in a “fishing expedition” without probable cause to serve the arrest warrant. He also questioned police claims of continuing with the manhunt at the KOJC compound because they detected “heartbeats,” calling it absurd.

He appealed to the police to leave the KOJC compound, adding that it has become clear to many that it was a failed mission.

Earlier, authorities called on KOJC members to understand the nature of police work and urged them and their lawyers to convince Quiboloy to surrender and defend himself in court.

At a news conference live-streamed on the Police Regional Office XI’s Facebook page, Brigadier General Roderick Augustus Alba, spokesperson for a special task group deployed to catch the fugitives, said they were only targeting the KOJC leader and four others, not his followers and supporters.

Alba called for calm and assured Quiboloy’s followers and communities surrounding the 30-hectare KOJC property that “our business is to protect and serve,” and that law enforcers on the ground were strictly observing legal procedures, and exercising maximum tolerance.

Police claimed at least 60 officers have been wounded so far since the start of the operation at the KOJC compound.

The KOJC, too, said it counted about 54 of its members sent to the hospital for various injuries, anxiety attacks, and heart attacks resulting from the “siege.”

KOJC members not targets

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Jerick Filisopo, another spokesperson for the police’s special task group, said they welcomed the supplemental order issued by the Davao City regional court to clarify the temporary protection order.

Filisopo said the court’s latest move only strengthened the police’s position regarding the ongoing manhunt for the fugitives.

“It reinforces the position of the PNP that the TPO [temporary protection order] issued by the court does not prevent the implementation of the warrants of arrest against Pastor Quiboloy and four others,” Filisopo said.

Police also denied claims that they gave the KOJC an ultimatum to surrender Quiboloy because they intended to bomb the compound.

Asked about the boxes with undisclosed contents brought inside by the police, which caused KOJC members to become worried, Alba explained that there were operational procedures that had to remain classified to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing manhunt.

Police-Davao spokesperson Major Catherine dela Rey said, “We have no other targets. We are not after structures or property.”

She asked KOJC members not to divert from the real issue, which is that their leader needs to submit himself to court and prove his innocence of the criminal charges against him.

Dela Rey also asked the public not to immediately believe what KOJC members are saying about police plans. She explained that the nature of police work involves critical operational details that cannot be made public, as it would jeopardize ongoing operations.

“We appeal to KOJC members to understand that this is police work. The court has instructed us; we are not the enemy,” she said.

Dela Rey made the appeal amid resistance from supporters of the fugitive KOJC leader, with at least 29 members arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and direct assault. – Rappler.com