Davao court grants temporary protection order to KOJC

The Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 has issued a temporary protection order (TPO) in favor of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), directing the Philippine National Police (PNP) to cease actions that threaten the safety and security of KOJC members.

The court emphasized the urgency of the situation and instructed the PNP to remove all barricades or blockades that obstruct access to and from the KOJC compound.

"Hence, this court under the current situation, sees the urgency to direct the PNP XI to immediately cease and desist from any act or omission that threatens the life, liberty, or security as well as the properties of the petitioners," the court's order stated.

"The PNP XI is hereby ordered to remove all forms of barricades, barriers or blockades that bar the access to and from the subject compound and hinder," it added.

According to the RTC, the restrictions of the PNP “noticeably trampled” the property rights of the KOJC members as well as their religious freedom and academic rights, which is guaranteed by the Constitution.

The ruling mandates the PNP to ensure that KOJC members have unrestricted access to their compound. 

Arrest warrants

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

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said the police will not leave the KOJC compound and will continue to hunt for Quiboloy despite the order.

“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang aming pag-ano dyan, gagawin namin 'yun, hahanapin talaga 'yan. Hindi kami aalis diyan [We will continue looking for him. We will not leave there],” Abalos told reporters in a phone interview.

He said they will file a clarification with the court regarding the order, noting that it did not instruct them to stop the police operation.

“But for the meantime, siguro ika-clarify namin itong ginawa ng korteng ito tungkol dito sa pag-remove ng barikada dahil sinasabi niya ‘that threatens the life, liberty et cetera,’” he said.

(But for the meantime, maybe we can clarify the court order regarding the removal of the barricade because it says 'that threatens the life, liberty, et cetera’.)

“Kasi in the first place 'yung tinatawag nating warrant of arrest is also a court order [Because in the first place, the warrant of arrest that we have is also a court order],” he added.

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 No. 9208, as amended, before a Pasig court.

In a Super Radyo DzBB interview, Abalos said the police will follow the protection order and remove the barricade and not hinder any KOJC members from entering and leaving the crowd.

“Susundin po natin ito ngunit ikloro rin natin dito sa content. Yung police operation and baricada hindi ng post threat sa buhay, sa kalayan, sa segridada sa KOJC,” Abalos said.

(We will follow it but we will also ask for clarification on the content. The police operation and barricade do not a post threat to the life, freedom, and security of KOJC members.)

'Simple control'

Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo clarified the police did not prohibit KOJC members from entering nor leaving the compound since it began its operations on Saturday.

“Kung wala pong nakakapasok sa kanila, gutom po lahat ng tao doon. Nakakapagpasok sila ng pagkain and tubig,” Fajardo told the media.

(If no one were allowed to enter, everyone in the compound would be starving. They are able to bring in food and water.)

“What we implemented there was a simple control, especially nung Sabado hanggang kahapon kung saan nagsagawa sila ng illegal assembly that hampered the flow of traffic, particularly malapit sa airport,” she added.

(What we implemented there was a simple control, especially from Saturday until yesterday, where they held an illegal assembly that hampered the flow of traffic, particularly near the airport.)

Fajardo also said the police did not put barricades in front of the KOJC compound and that its members were the ones who put the trucks and firetrucks at the gate that blocked the entrance on the other side of the compound.

“Wala po munang ipagdiwang sa nagyon dahil malinao ang nakalagay sa protection order. They might have a different interpretation. Respetuhin po natin yung desisyon ng korte at susumite tayo ng petitio to clarify yung order,” Fajardo told KOJC members.

(There is nothing to celebrate yet because what is written in the protection order is clear. They might have a different interpretation. Let's respect the court's decision and we will submit a petition to clarify the order.) — GMA Regional TV, with reports from Joahna Lei Casilao, Joviland Rita and Mariel Celine Serquiña/AOL/BM, GMA Integrated News