No 'overkill' in police raid on KOJC compound - Abalos

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said Wednesday that policemen lawfully served the arrest warrant against controversial televangelist Apollo Quiboloy at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City on June 10.

“Ang ating police po, makikita niyo sa tapes, sila pa po ang ginamitan ng water cannon, pero andun lang po sila. Ang hirap talaga because kailangan mong gawin ang trabaho mo, mayroon kang warrant, at kailangan ipatupad mo ito,” he told GMA Integrated News in an interview.

(You can even see on tapes that our police were even attacked with water cannon. It was very difficult for them because they needed to do their job, which is to serve the warrant.)

“Sana maunawan ng ating mga nakikinig na ito ay trabaho lang po ng ating mga kapulisan…I would say there was no overkill,” Abalos added.

(I hope everyone will understand that our police are just doing their job…I would say there was no overkill.)

Several police personnel, including three officials, have been relieved from their posts to make way for the Philippine National Police’s investigation into the possible lapses during the serving of the arrest warrant at the KOJC compound.

Authorities also raided properties owned by KOJC in Samal Island and Sarangani province.

The KOJC ''strongly condemned'' the actions of authorities ''as they were not only laden with irregularities, but they were excessive and overkill.''

"The PNP deployed special battalions who were in full battle gear, some CIDG officials were even seen wearing bulletproof vests, and hundreds of police personnel in anti-riot gear and shields strategically positioned themselves at the KOJC compound,” the KOJC said in a statement on June 11.

Quiboloy has not been located since the Senate issued an arrest order against him in March for his continued refusal to appear at the chamber's inquiry into the allegations of human trafficking and sexual abuse involving the KOJC.

The courts have also ordered his arrest on charges of child and sexual abuse and human trafficking.

Abalos said that the police were “very, very careful” in carrying out the operation following an earlier statement by Quiboloy that he would rather not be caught alive.

“In fact, ang ginawa namin to make sure na ang lahat ay maingat at lahat ay responsible, may mga body cam po lahat ‘yan. Para ma-monitor natin na wala talagang maga-abuso dito,” said Abalos.

(In fact, to make sure that everyone would be careful and responsible, they wore body cams. So, we can monitor that there is no abuse of power.)

Abalos also cited Section 11, Rule 113 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, which allows law enforcers to “break into any building or enclosure where the person to be arrested is or is reasonably believed to be, if he is refused admittance thereto, after announcing his authority and purpose.”

Former president Rodrigo Duterte, a friend and ally of Quiboloy, earlier threatened to take legal action against the policemen for conducting an “illegal raid” into the pastor’s properties.

But despite the relief of some police officers, the PNP maintained that the serving of the arrest warrant was a “lawful operation.” — VBL, GMA Integrated News