KOJC asks Davao LGU to stop cops from drilling inside compound

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ on Thursday has asked the Davao City Engineering Office to stop the alleged drilling by police searching for religious leader Apollo Quiboloy inside their compound.

According to a 24 Oras report on Thursday by Cyril Chaves of GMA Regional TV, police entered the 30-hectare KOJC compound with various equipment on the sixth day of its operation to search and arrest embattled KOJC leader Quiboloy and four others.

"Based dun nade-detect nung device na heartbeat, magsasabi na meron underground facility," said Police Major Catherine Dela Rey, spokesperson of Police Regional Office 11. 

(Based on the device it detected a heartbeat, we can say there is an underground facility.)

Meanwhile, Quiboloy's lawyer, Israelito Torreon, insisted that the Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 issued a temporary protection order (TPO) in favor of the KOJC.

"The issuance of TPO was precisely done to eliminate PNP's restriction and control of the premises, their presence here, kasi sa tingin namin na-serve na yung warrant of arrest wala si Pastor Apollo Quiboloy rito," he said.

(The way we see it, the warrant of arrest has been served, and Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is not here.)

The Davao RTC clarified the said TPO does not prevent the police operation in the KOJC compound and the serving of the warrant of arrest against Quiboloy et al.

Earlier, tensions ensued after police brought a "blue box" inside the compound. Some KOJC members protested against the move, saying the box did not undergo an X-ray scanner.

Inside the cathedral, police deployed a life and motion tracer, life detector equipment and a proton elicit device. The various gear can all detect vital signs of people, movement and voices and are used in search and rescue operations.

Searching for gold?

The KOJC complained about the presence of the metal detector.

“Kung tao ang hinahanap mo, bakit metal detector? Baka gold na ang hinahanap dito atsaka kung may makikita silang gold, yun na ang magiging dahilan nila because Article 12 Section 2 and 3 of the 1987 Constitution, the state has the power to control any and all natural resources,” said Torreon.

(If you're looking for a person, why a metal detector? Maybe they are looking for gold here, but if they find gold, that will be their reason… the state has the power to control any and all natural resources.)

The PNP also deployed a long-range acoustic device. The LRAD produces sound at high power for communicating from a distance. The equipment is reportedly used for maritime and perimeter security and crowd control.

In a photo from the KOJC legal team, what was believed to have been food inside a carton box was discovered to be a concrete cutter when it was scanned.

GMA Regional TV is trying to reach the PNP for a statement. On Thursday afternoon, police brought in several specialized equipment. The PNP, however, remained silent regarding their uses but assured that these were legal.

"The ground commander doesn't want to reveal. This is part of the operational data, operational information that could jeopardize yung conduct ng serving of warrant of arrest," said Police Brigadier Roderick Augustus Alba, principal spokesperson of Special Task Group Teknon Alpha.

More cops arrive

Additional police officers from Northern Mindanao, other parts of the Davao Region and Soccsksargen have arrived in Davao City to assist in civil disturbance management, especially since operations and surveillance inside and outside the KOJC compound are now being done on a 24/7 basis.

There are also soldiers assisting with crowd control.

“‘Yung una pong pumasok, ‘yung mga searchers, yung arresting officers, ay wala pong armas. Yung mga CDM contingents natin wala pong armas ‘yan. Ang may mga armas lang po ay yung mga perimeter security natin and certain police if incase merong kinakailangan ng police intervention,” siad Police Luitenant Colonel Jerick Filisofo, Secondary spokesperson, Special Task Group Teknon Alpha. 

(The first to enter, the searchers, the arresting officers, were unarmed. Our CDM contingents don't have any weapons. The only personnel who are armed are our perimeter security and certain police in case there is a need for police intervention.)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said no policemen involved in the operation were armed.

On Wednesday night, the PNP allowed five civilians to enter the compound but police did not give any details if they were involved in human intelligence.

“We don’t have any other target sa loob (inside). Ang target talaga namin ay mahuli si Quiboloy and four others," said Dela Rey.

(Our real target is to catch Quiboloy and the four others.)

The PNP said 60 cops have been injured from its ranks while 29 KOJC members were charged for various offenses.

The KOJC, meanwhile, said at least 16 of their members have been injured, while one person died due to an apparent heart attack. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News