VP Sara condemns police 'abuse' in serving arrest warrant vs Quiboloy

Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday condemned the "gross abuse of police power" in serving a warrant of arrest against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City.

"Hindi ko tinututulan ang implementasyon ng anumang warrant of arrest na naaayon sa batas. Ngunit kailanman ay hindi katanggap-tanggap ang paggamit ng dahas laban sa mga inosenteng mamamayan at mga deboto ng Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC)," Duterte said in a statement.

(I am not against the implementation of any warrant of arrest that is in accordance with the law. But it is unacceptable to use force against innocent citizens and devotees of KOJC.)

"I vehemently condemn the gross abuse of police power in the takeover of the KOJC compound earlier today, which led to the harassment of religious worshipers, the abuse of minors, and the unnecessary loss of life," she said.

The vice president said the police acts were a betrayal of trust Filipinos placed in the institution, aside from being a violation of rights.

"These acts are not only a blatant violation of Constitutionally-protected rights but a betrayal of the trust that we, Filipinos, place in the very institution sworn to protect and serve us," she said.

Duterte said she cannot help but wonder if the police's use of force out of the ordinary and the unjust abuse of ordinary Filipinos in order to enforce a warrant of arrest are due to the accused being known supporters of her family.

"Hindi ko rin maiwasang matanong sa sarili kung ang paggamit ba ng di pangkaraniwang pwersa at di makatarungang pang-aabuso sa ordinaryong Pilipino, upang maipatupad ang naturang warrant of arrest, ay dahil sa ang akusado ay isang kilalang Duterte-supporter," Duterte said.

(I cannot avoid asking myself if the use of extraordinary force and unjust abuse of ordinary Filipinos to enforce a warrant of arrest are due to the accused being a known Duterte supporter.)

Former president Rodrigo Duterte, father of VP Sara, on Saturday criticized the police's latest attempt to arrest Quiboloy.

"Our country has never been in a more tragic state as it is today. Rights have been trampled upon and our laws derided," the former president said in a statement.

Apologizes

"Kaya nais ko ring humingi ng kapatawaran sa lahat ng miyembro, deboto at bumubuo ng Kingdom of Jesus Christ, sa paghikayat at pakiusap ko sa inyong iboto si Bongbong Marcos Jr. noong 2022. Nawa'y mapatawad ninyo ako. You deserve better. Filipinos deserve better. Shukran," she said.

(That is why I am asking forgiveness from all the members, devotees and all those who are part of Kingdom of Jesus Christ for encouraging them and appealing to them to vote for Bongbong Marcos Jr. last 2022. I hope you will forgive me. You deserve better. Filipinos deserve better. Thanks.)

GMA News Online has asked the Palace for comment regarding the vice president's statement but has yet to receive a reply.

Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel trooped to the KOJC compound in Buhangin, Davao City before dawn on Saturday to serve an arrest warrant on Quiboloy and his co-accused.

One person died due to heart attack during the police operation.

Sixteen KOJC members including four minors said they were injured after police allegedly used tear gas when they entered the compound on Saturday. 

However, Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) regional director Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III said they had no tear gas and his men in fact had no gas masks on.

Instead, Torre said it was a member of KOJC who used a fire extinguisher on his men. He also said the KOJC members used a backhoe to block a group of policemen deployed. One of the policemen in fact sustained a 14-inch wound on his hand as a result, he said.

Torre said they will continue searching the huge KOJC compound on Sunday to look for Quiboloy as they have information that the pastor is hiding in the area.

He also 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 in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday.

(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.)

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. —KG, GMA Integrated News