Lawyer denies KOJC members are violent

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) on Tuesday denied that its members behaved violently against cops who are seeking to serve an arrest warrant against KOJC leader Apollo Quiboloy in their compound in Davao City.

“Hindi po totoo na nag va-violence yung mga members po,” Atty. Dina Tolentino-Fuentes, the Kingdom’s lawyer, said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(The members are not committing violence.)

“They have allowed the police to enter the compound, they have allowed the police to search the premises. In fact, they have searched Jose Maria College 13 times already as of yesterday,” she added.

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'Mismong ang mga miyembro ang nagsusugat doon sa kapwa nila miyembro na para ipakita at isisi sa mga kapulisan na galing ang injury nila sa ating kapulisan- PCol Jean Fajardo, tagapagsalita ng PNP pic.twitter.com/3nOBxCkLHF

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 26, 2024

On Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said that some police officers have been hurt by KOJC members.

She said that they also have a video allegedly showing that the members would hurt themselves and pin these to the police.

“We’re just waiting na ma-authenticate po ang video na ito to show how desperate these people are para ipakita na umaabuso ‘yung mga pulis natin, nanakit ‘yung mga pulis natin,” she said.

(We're just waiting for this video to be authenticated so we can show how desperate these people are to show our police being abusive and violent.)

“But on the contrary, ‘yung mga pulis natin ang minumura, tinadyakan, at sinasaktan,” she added.

(On the contrary, it's our police who are being cursed, ridiculed, and hurt.)

For her part, Tolentino-Fuentes said that she did not believe that the KOJC members would hurt themselves.

“As far as I have known them since 2021, these people are truthful, honest, god fearing and if you see their compound, it’s very, very, very clean,” she said.

“They are clean in thought, word, and deed. I do not think that they will do that,” she added.

The police entered the KOJC compound on Saturday to serve the arrest warrant on Quiboloy. The Police Regional Office 11 said that its units will not leave until he is apprehended.

Following this, supporters gathered in front of the compound to protest the presence of the police.

The rally was dispersed on Monday, with authorities arresting 18 members.

Impunity

According to Tolentino-Fuentes, the police have been acting with impunity for three days.

“The entire compound is closed off. Hindi na ho makapasok ang mga members without pahintulot nila. And they have not been allowing members to come in,” she said.

(The entire compound is closed off. Members are not allowed to enter without their permission. And they have not been allowing members to come in.)

Currently, she said the police were digging into the basement of the Jose Maria College in search of a bunker or tunnel.

“Ewan ko ho kung may makikita silang tunnel or bunker diyan po. Hindi ko po alam yan because I have never seen a bunker or a tunnel inside JMC,” she said.

(I have no idea if they'll find a tunnel or bunker there. I don't know because I've never seen a bunker or tunnel inside JMC.)

In a separate interview on dzBB, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said that he will still confirm this but maintained that this is pursuant to the arrest warrant.

“Sabi ko nga, ito ay proseso ng batas at hindi kami titigil hanggat mahanap talaga si Pastor Quiboloy,” Abalos said.

(As I've always said, this is a legal process and we won't stop until we really find Pastor Quiboloy.)

For their part, Tolentino-Fuentes said they will question the actions of the police before courts.

Sought for comment, Abalos said that this is their right.

Quiboloy location

Meanwhile, when asked if Quiboloy was not in the compound, Tolentino-Fuentes said that she has not seen him since March whenever she was inside.

“The last time I talked to the Pastor was in March— I cannot remember. And we gave him his options and after that I did not see him any more from March up to now in the compound whenever I am inside,” Tolentino-Fuentes said.

“So I can say with certainty that I have never seen him inside,” she added.

Abalos, however, believes that the operations will soon come to an end. He explained that they see a lot of evidence that Quiboloy is inside the compound.

“Marami kaming mga nakikitang mga pruweba na talagang nasa lugar lang sila at iyan ay talagang iniisa-isa talaga namin. Iniisa-isa talaga namin,” he said.

(We've seen a lot of evidence that they're really in there, and we're really taking a close look at each and every one of them.)

Human rights violations

Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressed concern over reports of illicit activities that were allegedly committed by the police and KOJC members.

It appealed to the police to exercise maximum tolerance and to avoid misconduct and arbitrary arrests.

“It is imperative that state forces, during their search for Quiboloy, uphold the rights of KOJC members to practice their religious activities and ensure the safety of civilians living within the compound,” it said.

“The CHR has also taken cognizance of the reported incident where a police officer used pepper spray on a KOJC church member,” it added.

It also called on KOJC members to refrain from engaging in unruly activities following reports that members were throwing chairs and verbally harassing the media.

“In light of the current circumstances, we urge everyone to report any violations of human rights through our regional office in Davao City and the CHR MISMO,” it said.

The CHR also urged those accused to abide by the law.

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 before a Quezon City court.

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. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News