Army to check if reservists part of Quiboloy’s ‘angels of death’

The Philippine Army on Tuesday said it will coordinate with law enforcement agencies if its reservists are part of Apollo Quiboloy’s alleged private army or the so-called “angels of death.”

In a press briefing, Philippine Army Deputy spokesperson Colonel Rey Balido said that they have not yet received reports pertaining to the said private army.

“We don't have any reports yet kung may mga involved nga dito na private armies. We will closely coordinate with our law enforcement agencies dahil sila naman ang dapat tumutok nito,” he said.

(We don't have any reports yet if there are private armies involved here. We will closely coordinate with our law enforcement agencies because they are the ones who should focus on this matter.)

Balido noted the Kingdom of Jesus Christ- owned media network Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) was accredited as an affiliated reserve unit of the Philippine Army in 2015 and assigned the unit designation of 2nd Signal Battalion.

“If we may recall, yung Sonshine Media Network ng Kingdom of Jesus Christ, yung kaniyang media network, was accredited as Philippine Army Reservists affiliated unit last 2015,” he said.

(If we may recall, the Sonshine Media Network of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, its media network, was accredited as a Philippine Army reservists affiliated unit last 2015.)

“So they are called the 2nd Signal Battalion ng Philippine Army affiliated reserved unit. So tinap natin sila because of their expertise in communications. Nagagamit natin,” he added.

(So they are called the 2nd Signal Battalion of the Philippine Army affiliated reserve unit. So we tapped them because of their expertise in communications. We are using it.)

The KOJC is the religious organization led by the Davao-based Quiboloy while SMNI is the group’s meida and broadcasting arm.

Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala said the 2nd Reservist Signal Battalion has 540 reservists including two officer reservists and 538 enlisted reservists.

Up to 200 of them are Davao-based, according to Dema-ala.

“Deployed ito sa National Capital Region, Visayas, and Mindanao kung saan meron satellite unit ang SMNI,” Dema-ala said.

(It is deployed in the National Capital Region, Visayas, and Mindanao where SMNI has a satellite unit.)

As to SMNI’s involvement with the supposed private army of Quiboloy, Balido said “We will closely coordinate with our law enforcement counterparts.”

Not private army of Quiboloy

SMNI legal counsel Atty. Mark Tolentino told GMA News Online that some SMNI staff had been trained for the reserve force “as Filipino” and “not as private army of KOJC.”

“Nag-training lang some staff ng SMNI sa reserve force. Not as SMNI staff, but as Filipino. I am also a reservist. We complied all the requirements to be part of the reservist as a Filipino, not as private army of KOJC,” he said.

(Some SMNI staff just trained in the reserve force. Not as SMNI staff, but as Filipinos. I am also a reservist. We fulfilled all the requirements to be part of the reservist as a Filipino, not as a private army of KOJC.)

On Monday, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said some possible members of Quiboloy’s alleged private army have been identified.

Fajardo said the PNP is investigating if the Army reservists and militiamen who are allegedly serving as bodyguards of Quiboloy are part of the "angels of death."

According to Fajardo, the PNP will now work on the cancellation of gun licenses of the “angels of death” members.

KOJC lawyer Atty. Israelitio Torreon said the existence of a private army controlled by Quiboloy is "not true."

"If this is true, then this private army would have surely been unleashed during the 16 days KOJC siege where the members were subjected to so much violence and tramplings of their constitutional and human rights," he added.

"Yet, you never saw even one of them brandish a firearm in order to retaliate against the policemen. Instead, you saw bread and food being given to the policemen by the KOJC members. Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy has millions of private prayer warriors not a private army," he added.

The “angels of death” were also mentioned by Quiboloy’s alleged rape victims who came forward to the police.

According to the PNP, the victims said they were warned that if they tell anyone about their sexual activities with Quiboloy, they will be hunted by the “angels of death.”—RF/RSJ, GMA Integrated News