KOJC compound rally dispersed; 18 face obstruction of justice raps

Eighteen members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ were arrested after police dispersed on Monday afternoon the religious group's rally in front of its compound in Davao City.

The authorities also dismantled the barricades put up in the area.

According to the report on "24 Oras" by Jandi Esteban of GMA Regional TV, the 18 arrested are facing complaints of obstruction of justice.

The KOJC is also looking to file complaints against the police.

The KOJC members started the rally on Saturday morning when 2,000 police went to the compound to serve a warrant of arrest against KOJC leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Quiboloy is facing charges of child and sexual abuse and human trafficking. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.

The lawyer of KOJC has said that the gathering was legal and was in line with the "state of necessity" under the Civil Code.

The group said the police didn't respect human rights when the authorities scoured the KOJC compound, which allegedly was not covered by the warrant of arrest.

The Davao regional police said the action was legal because of the probability that Quiboloy and other accused are inside the compound. —NB, GMA Integrated News