KOJC members file complaint due to injuries in Quiboloy op; Police say it's a lie

Some members of Kingdom of Jesus Christ filed a complaint after allegedly sustaining injuries during a police operation in Davao City to serve a warrant of arrest against their leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on Saturday.

Police however said the allegation is a lie.

The injured members went one by one to a police station of the Davao City Police Office to file the complaint, according to a report on Sunday on Super Radyo dzBB by John Ryan Calonia of Super Radyo Davao.

Those injured numbered 16 including four minors.

They were allegedly mauled by police during the latter's operation to serve a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy and his co-accused at the KOJC compound in Buhangin, Davao City.

In an interview with Super Radyo Davao, Philippine National Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) regional director Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III said they respect and will face the complaint.

In a separate interview with Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, Torre said the KOJC members were saying that they got hurt after police allegedly fired tear gas upon them when they entered the compound on Saturday.

However, it was the KOJC members who used a fire extinguisher on police, Torre said.

"May mga pinabugahan nila (KOJC members) ng fire extinguisher at biglang tumakbo 'yung tao na nagbuga kaya hindi na nahabol," Torre said.

(They used a fire extinguisher [on police] then the one who did so fled and was not caught.)

"Tapos sinabi nila, ang mga pulis daw ay may dala ng tear gas, which is a very big lie," he said.

(Then they are saying the police used tear gas, which is a very big lie.)

"Hindi talaga totoo dahil kita naman, wala namang pulis na naka-gas mask eh. Kasi 'di ba basic 'yan, kapag may tear gas ka, naka-gas mask ka. Hindi ka naman Superman na hindi ka naaapektuhan ng tear gas," Torre said.

(That is really not true because you can see that police were not wearing gas masks. That's basic — if you have tear gas, you should be wearing a gas mask. You are not Superman that you will not be affected by tear gas.)

"Binugahan nila ang mga tao natin ng fire extinguisher kaya hinahanap namin 'yon. Fa-file-an namin ng direct assault at obstruction (of justice)," Torre said.

(They used a fire extinguisher on our men that is why we are searching for that person. We will file a complaint against him for direct assault and obstruction [of justice].)

KOJC members used backhoe

Torre also said some cops got hurt when KOJC members used a backhoe to stop them from entering the compound.

"May mga tao tayo kahapon, may nasugatan tayo eh. Nu'ng ginamitan nila ng... Akalain mong sinalubong ng backhoe 'yung isa nating grupo ng mga pulis na pumapasok doon sa compound. Backhoe ang ginamit, sinalubong ng backhoe," he said.

(We had some men yesterday who were hurt. They used... Can you believe it, they used a backhoe to block a group of cops entering the compound.)

"Kaya medyo nasugatan talaga. May mga 14 inches ang inabot ng kamay ng isang tao natin," Torre said.

(So there were injuries. One of our men had a wound on his hand running 14 inches long.)

KOJC fatality

One KOJC member died on Saturday during the police operation due to heart attack.

"Ang allegation ay inatake sa puso. Undergoing ang ating autopsy dito," Torre said.

(The allegation is it was due to heart attack. The autopsy is being conducted at this time.)

Torre stressed that the fatality had no direct contact with police.

"Inatake sa puso pero wala itong contact sa ating mga operating troops. Wala itong... hindi ito nahawakan... Walang ganu'n eh. Actually nu'ng tinawag nila 'yung ambulansiya namin eh kritikal na kritikal na 'yung tao," he said.

(The victim had a heart attack but he had no contact with our operating troops. He was not held by our men. Actually when they called our ambulance, he was already in a very critical condition.)

"Ang lumalabas, medyo may edad, vendor, tapos ang trabaho nito ay watchman du'n sa isa sa mga towers nila. High rise 'yung tower niya eh. Siguro sa pagod lang tapos eh hindi na niya nakayanan kaya ayun, nag-collapse," Torre said.

(Investigation showed the victim, a vendor, was already middle aged. His job is as watchman in one of the towers. The tower is high-rise. Maybe he was tired already and his body could no longer keep up, thus, he collapsed.)

Operation to continue; Quiboloy hiding

The PRO regional director said the police operation to serve the warrant of arrest will continue on Sunday.

Torre believes Quiboloy is hiding in the KOJC compound.

"Nandito, nandito. Habang hindi nila kami kinukumbinsi sa pamamagitan ng pag-open sa mga facilities na gusto naming i-search ay nandito talaga," he said.

(He is here, he is here. For as long as they do not open up the facilities that we want to search, we are convinced that he is here.)

"At nandito ang sinasabi ng informants namin," Torre added.

(And he is here based on what our informants are saying.)

"May mga reports tayo na may mga tunnels dito, may underground compartments," he said, adding that they will use ground penetrating radars to inspect every area.

(We have reports that there are tunnels and underground compartments here.)

"Nandito pa rin. Nakaselyo kasi kaya hindi mailabas 'yung... hindi nila mailabas si Pastor dito. Kaya kami na ang maghahanap sa kanya kung ayaw niya talaga lumabas," Torre said.

(He is still here. The place is sealed that is why they could not bring Pastor out. So we will be the ones to look for him if he does not want to go out.)

Torre said police will enforce the law to give justice to the victims.

"May T-shirt pa sila na 'Justice for Apollo Quiboloy'. Paano naman ang justice for Amanda at iba pang biktima ni Pastor Quiboloy?... Paano naman ang hustisya sa kanila kung hindi namin i-implement ang warrant of arrest na ito?" Torre said.

(They have T-shirts saying 'Justice for Apollo Quiboloy'. But what about justice for Amanda and other victims of Pastor Quiboloy? What will become of justice for them if we do not implement the warrant of arrest?)

"Sa akin lang ay sana maintindihan ng publiko na kaya naman kami ganito ka-resolute ay dahil matagal na ito. Apat na buwan na ito. Pinapakita talaga niya na iba ang mayaman sa mahirap. Hindi naman pwede 'yon. The PNP will enforce the law without fear or favor," he added.

(For me I hope the public will understand that the reason why we are this resolute is because it has dragged on for so long. It's been four months. They are showing that the rich are different from the poor. That is not okay.)

Police trooped to the KOJC compound in Davao City before dawn on Saturday to serve the arrest warrant on Quiboloy and his co-accused.

Quiboloy is facing charges under Section 5(b) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and under Section 10(a) of the same act.

He is also facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended, before a Pasig court.

Quiboloy has denied the accusations against him.

READ: TIMELINE: Apollo Quiboloy's legal troubles

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. told Quiboloy last July to show up and face the accusations thrown against him.

A reward worth P10 million is being offered for any information that will lead to the KOJC leader's arrest, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said. —KG, GMA Integrated News