DILG: Davao court did not tell PNP to leave KOJC compound

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday said a Davao court's temporary protection order (TPO) does not direct the police to leave the Kingdom of Jesust Christ (KOJC) where religious leader Apollo Quiboloy and several others are supposedly hiding.

“It is very clear that there is no express directive from Davao City RTC Branch 15 ordering the PNP to vacate the KOJC premises or to stop the service of the warrants of arrest. Therefore, the PNP will continue to carry out its duty to serve the warrants of arrest against Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused, with due respect to human rights and the legal process,” DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said in a statement.

“We will continue to uphold the sanctity of the justice system and the rule of law.,” the statement added.

Abalos issued the statement after Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 15 issued a protection order in favor of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).

The RTC ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 11 to "remove all forms of barricades, barriers or blockades that bar the access to and from the subject compound and hinder” as it “noticeably trampled” OJC members’ property rights, religion freedom and academic rights.

Abalos earlier said the police will not leave the KOJC compound.

Drilling

Continuing their search for KOJC leader pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the police focused on a building inside the compound.

The sound of drilling can be heard in a video taken by a KOJC member coming from the Jose Maria College Building, which began around 4 a.m.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said its ground penetrating radar detected heartbeat from an underground bunker inside the compound.

GMA Integrated News asked for PNP’s confirmation on this matter but they refused to give details on their operation.

He also said they will file a clarification with the court regarding the order as the police operation and barricades do not pose a threat to the life, liberty, or security of KOJC members.

PNP Spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo earlier said the police did not prohibit KOJC members from entering nor leaving the compound.

She added that the police only implemented a “simple control” since members of the KOJC held an illegal assembly that hampered the flow of traffic.

The members of KOJC outside the compound celebrated upon learning about the court order while KOJC officials went to the Police Regional Office 11 office.

“Sabi ng korte (the court said) the restrictions and control imposed by the PNP 11 over and within the compound of KOJC and and JMCFI (Jose Maria College Foundation, Inc.) noticeably trampled not only on the property rights of the petitioners, its officers and members but also the exercise of their religious freedom and academic rights,” KOJC legal counsel Atty. Israelito Torreon said.

In response, the PNP said it will file a motion for clarification regarding the order.

“Our presence there is based on valid warrant of arrest issued by the court and addressed in that address. The pending any order from the court that says that police Regional Office 11 is ordered to vacated and stop the implementation of the warrant then that will be the time when we will vacate,” said P/General Nicolas Torre III, PNP Regional 11 director.

According to the PNP, their operation is taking long because they are having difficulty in searching for Quiboloy, but they believe that he is in the KOJC compound.

On August 24, the PNP trooped to the KOJC compound in Davao to serve the warrant against Quiboloy, who 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.

Quiboloy 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. —RF/BAP, GMA Integrated News