PNP chief Marbil urges Quiboloy to surrender, defends police on 'excessive force' allegations

Philippine National Police chief Rommel Marbil on Monday urged Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy to surrender to the authorities as he defended the police force from allegations of using excessive force in issuing the arrest warrant against the religious leader.

Marbil made the call at the Senate inquiry on the serving of arrest warrants in KOJC properties last June 10 where Quiboloy's followers claimed being "brutalized and terrorized" by police authorities.

"I assure, as the Chief PNP, we will assure you na i-surrender niyo lang si Apollo Quiboloy and the four others, nandito po kami and you will see that we follow the rules, human rights. We assure you po," Marbil said.

This call was echoed by Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III, the director of Police Regional Office 11, pointing out that the "wheels of justice" will only start if Quiboloy will submit himself to the jurisdiction of the court.

"I would really suggest that Mr. Quiboloy submit(s) himself to the jurisdiction of the court because sooner or later, the long arm of the law will catch up with him," he said.

But Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who presided over the hearing as the chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, emphasized that it would be "unfair" for the PNP to require KOJC members to surrender their leader just to ensure peace in the Davao City where most of the KOJC properties are located.

Dela Rosa said he and former president Rodrigo Duterte, who was recently assigned as the administrator of KOJC properties, have no communication with Quiboloy.

"Even President Duterte walang contact kay Pastor Quiboloy. 'Di alam kung nasaan ngayon. Lahat. Ako mismo, I was trying to keep in touch with Pastor Quiboloy nung lumabas 'yung kanyang warrant. I was trying to contact him pero wala, to no avail," he said.

(Even President Duterte has no contact with Pastor Quiboloy. His location is unknown.I myself, I was trying to keep in touch with Pastor Quiboloy when the  warrant was issued. I was trying to contact him but to no avail.)

"So unfair din na gawin nating requirement sa kanila because they are only ordinary members of the church...Ako mismo tutulong ako dahil dati akong Chief PNP. Dati ko kayong mga tao. I care about you and I also care about the people of Davao City lalong-lalo na itong mga member ng KOJC. I really care for them mga kababayan ko 'to eh," the senator added.

(So it’s unfair we make it a requirement to them because they are only ordinary members of the church… I will personally help as a former Chief PNP. You were once my men. I care about you and I also care about the people of Davao City, especially the KOJC members. I really care for them, my province mates.)

In his opening statement, Marbil maintained that the PNP carried out the operation "with strict adherence to the PNP operational procedures" and their guiding principle was to uphold human rights while executing their duties with the highest standards of professionalism and respect of the law.

He explained the deployment of the appropriate number of police officers and the use of extensive resources was because Quiboloy "pose a high threat due to considerable influence and extensive network" which complicated their efforts to apprehend him and that the religious leader "may employ armed civilian supporters to evade arrest" which necessitated for the Special Action Forces.

"This operation was not just a routine action. It was a critical mission to execute a lawful warrant of arrest against the fugitives of the law, Apollo Quiboloy and five others, in connection with non-bailable offenses sa Tagalog po natin walang piyansa (in Tagalog there is no bail) of child abuse and qualified trafficking," Marbil said.

"On the day of the operation despite facing unprovoked resistance from KOJC followers, our personnel exercised remarkable self restraint and maximum tolerance throughout the operation to avoid tension and prevent any untoward incident," he said, adding that the PNP officers did not retaliate nor resort to excessive force.

Amid allegations of use of excessive force, Marbil said that the PNP Internal Affairs Service was directed to conduct an impartial investigation to determine any operational lapses during the police operation in KOJC properties.

"As a result of the investigation, we have administratively relieved 15 PNP personnel including three police commissioned officers and 12 police non-commissioned officers. Let me clarify these officers were relieved not for their abuses but for their failure to arrest the fugitives of the law Quiboloy and his co-accused," Marbil said.

The PNP chief also noted Quiboloy's statement that he will not be apprehended while he is alive, saying this is a clear indication of the KOJC leader's defiance.

"Their status as fugitive is indisputable," he added.

Further, Marbil said that KOJC members “disgracefully chose to use women and children as human shields” instead of cooperating with authorities and this resulted in obstruction and delay of the lawful actions of the policemen.

"Armed with bolos and other bladed weapons male members of this group engaged in violent confrontations with police officers [and] as a result six individuals and two minors were taken to the police station but were released the same day for humanitarian reasons," Marbil said.

The PNP Chief said they are open to any investigation to ferret out the truth about the police operations.

KOJC 'resisting'

Meanwhile, KOJC Executive Secretary Eleanor Cardona refuted Marbil's claim that KOJC members were "resisting" against police authorities.

"We have always entertained and let them in peacefully. We don't have any resistance. Bakit kami magre-resist? Ang pinuntahan naman nila religious compounds, hindi naman lair ng criminal (Why should we resist? They went to religious compounds, not a criminal lair.)," she said.

She then decried PNP's tagging of Quiboloy as a fugitive, claiming the latter was "falsely accused".

"Is it because he is also the spiritual adviser of so many, especially the former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte? Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is not yet convicted in any court here in the Philippines. Allegations 'yun lahat (those are all allegations)," she said.

"Ilang beses silang nag-search, nagbigay ng warrant of arrest para sa inosenteng tao at hindi pa convicted. Hindi siya fugitive kasi hindi siya nag-e-escape sa law. Sorry, 'wag niyong tatawaging fugitive ang hindi nag-e-escape sa law. Pastor siya. Pastor namin siya," an emotional Cardona added.

(They searched several times, issued an arrest warrant for an innocent person who has not been convicted. He is not a fugitive because he is not escaping from the law. Sorry, don’t call someone who is escaping from the law a fugitive. He is a pastor. Our pastor.)

She went on and said , "He has always said it, he is not evading the law. He is not escaping from the law. he was just asking the preservation of his life. Haharapin niya ang alleged na mga accusations ng human trafficking, rape, at ano pa man na lahat ng inaakusa niyo...basta nasa tamang korte at guaranteed siya na safe ang buhay niya," she added.

(He will face the alleged accusations of human trafficking, rape and all the other allegations… i the proper court and that it is guaranteed his life is safe.)

Cardona claimed anew that there are efforts from the United States is eyeing to conduct "rendition" on Quiboloy instead of extradition.

"Sinabi na 'yan ni pastor. 'Wag lang makialam ang Amerika, i-secure niyo lang 'yung seguridad ni pastor, haharapin niya lahat ng accusations niya sa korte. So ganito ang nangyari," she said.

(Pastor already said that. American should not interfere, just secure his safety, he will face all of these accusations before the court. So this is what happened.) — RF, GMA Integrated News