PNP: No serious threat from KOJC members amid Quiboloy hunt

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it has not monitored any serious threats from Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) members opposing the possible arrest of their leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

"Ang PNP po ay handang harapin ang anumang banta sa seguridad. But sa ngayon lamang po ay wala naman po tayong namo-monitor na seryosong banta," PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

(The PNP is ready to face any security threat. At this point, however, we have not monitored any serious threats.)

Fajardo made the statement when asked about the plan of KOJC members to go to Malacañang Palace in Manila City to protest the ongoing police operation for the arrest of Quiboloy in Davao City.

"Patuloy po 'yung ginagawa nating regular patrolling at yung ating enhanced managing police operation, lalong-lalo na po yung police presence po natin sa areas na ating binabantayan ay magtutuloy-tuloy po," Fajardo said.

(Our regular patrolling and our enhanced managing police operation will continue, especially the continuing police presence in the areas we are monitoring.)

"Hindi po tayo nawawala sa pokus bagamat meron pong ongoing police operation sa Davao City (We are not losing focus even though there is an ongoing police operation in Davao City)," she added.

Some KOJC and PNP members were reportedly hurt as the police searched for Quiboloy in the religious group's compound in Davao City recently.

One KOJC member died due to heart attack while 16 other KOJC members filed a complaint following injuries supposedly sustained when police used tear gas on them, an allegation which the Davao regional police has denied.

While acknowledging the rights of the KOJC followers to freedom of expression, Fajardo reminded them that they should still follow the law.

Fajardo called on KOJC members to help authorities convince Quiboloy to surrender instead.

Also on Wednesday, the KOJC asked a Davao court to issue a show cause order against Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. and the PNP, represented by PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil.

According to One Mindanao Regional TV, the KOJC filed a manifestation with a motion to issue a show cause order on why the respondents should not be held in contempt before the Davao City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15.

On August 24, the PNP trooped to the KOJC compound in Davao to serve the warrant against Quiboloy, who is facing charges under Section 5(b) and  Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

He is also facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act 9208, as amended, before a Pasig court.

Quiboloy went into hiding shortly after the Senate issued an arrest order against him for refusing to attend the chamber's hearings.

He has also been indicted by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.

In 2022, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation issued "wanted" posters for Quiboloy and two other members of his KOJC, namely Teresita Tolibas Dandan and Helen Panilag.

Quiboloy's camp has denied the allegations against him. — VDV, GMA Integrated News