CA declares TPO in favor of KOJC null and void — SolGen

The Court of Appeals (CA) in Cagayan de Oro City has declared the temporary protection order (TPO) granted to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) as null and void, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said Thursday.

In a message to reporters, Guevarra said, "The appellate court declared the TPO issued by [the] RTC Davao City against the PNP/DILG as null and void."

He said the CA also ordered the court to forward the records of the case to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court in accordance with the directive of the Supreme Court.

In August, the Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 issued a TPO directing the Philippine National Police (PNP) to cease actions that threaten the safety and security of KOJC members as cops attempted to serve arrest warrants against Quiboloy.

The order came amid ongoing tensions between the KOJC and the PNP as the latter attempted to serve the arrest warrants against its leader Apollo Quiboloy.

It later clarified that the TPO will not nullify the warrant of arrest issued.

For his part, Israelito Torreon, the legal counsel of the KOJC, said that he would ask the CA to reconsider its decision.

"We are filing a Motion for Reconsideration today if only to emphasize the fact that the individual members of the KOJC and the officers and students of JMC (Jose Maria College) are not covered by the Supreme Court Order transferring the venue of the cases against Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy," he said in a Facebook post.

Torreon said the ruling is contrary to the purpose of a writ of amparo, which is a remedy available to anyone whose right to life, liberty, and security is violated or threatened.

Members of the religious group have cried foul over the Davao regional police's alleged digging at the JMC building located inside the KOJC compound. The regional police has denied the allegation.

Quiboloy 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. — VDV, GMA Integrated News