29 KOJC members face raps as 60 cops hurt in Quiboloy hunt —PRO 11

A total of 29 members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) are facing complaints after 60 police officers were hurt implementing the arrest warrants against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 said on Thursday.

In a press conference, PRO 11 spokesperson Police Major Catherine dela Rey said obstruction of justice and direct assault complaints were filed against the KOJC members.

“Meron tayong nakasuhan na 29 na KOJC members...And currently 'yung iba, nasa Davao City Police Office custodial facility po sila. 'Yung update sa akin kahapon, they are processing for their bail,” Dela Rey said.

(We have filed complaints against 29 KOJC members...And currently some of them are in the Davao City Police Office custodial facility. The update given to me yesterday was that they were processing for their bail.)

“Assorted cases—'yung iba dalawang case na obstruction of justice and direct assault, 'yung iba obstruction of justice lang,” she added.

(Assorted cases—some of them are facing two cases—obstruction of justice and direct assault, while others are just facing obstruction of justice.)

Dela Rey said that 60 cops were hurt in the police operation so far and are now recovering from injuries. The police treated at least two KOJC members who were also hurt during the operation, she added.

“Sa part ng PNP, based sa record ng regional medical and dental unit, meron na pong 60 na sugatan na PNP members. And then meron kaming na-cater na dalawang members ng KOJC na na-treat namin,” Dela Rey said.

(On the part of the PNP, based on the record of the regional medical and dental unit, there are 60 wounded PNP members. And then we catered to and treated two KOJC members.)

GMA News Online sought comment from the KOJC on the matter but it has yet to provide a statement as of posting time.

Tension ensued early Thursday morning after police brought a "blue box" inside the KOJC compound as the search for Quiboloy continues.

Some KOJC members protested against the move, saying that the "blue box" did not undergo the X-ray scanner before entering the compound, according to a report from Unang Balita.

The PNP also brought a long-range acoustic device o LRAD, an apparatus that produces sound at high power for communicating at a distance. The apparatus is reportedly commonly used for maritime and perimeter security as well as a method for crowd control. 

Earlier, some KOJC members also filed a complaint after allegedly sustaining injuries during the police operation in the religious group's compound in Davao City.

Police denied the allegations.

The police have been trying to arrest Quiboloy inside the KOJC compound for six days already.

Arrest warrants were issued by Davao and Pasig courts against Quiboloy and others for alleged violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act as well as qualified human trafficking.

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 also issued “wanted” posters for Quiboloy and two other members of his KOJC, namely Teresita Tolibas Dandan and Helen Panilag.

Quiboloy’s camp has repeatedly denied the allegations against him.—AOL, GMA Integrated News