The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) reminded the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) to follow the judicial process amid the serving of the arrest warrant to embattled religious leader Apollo Quiboloy.
In a statement on Sunday, CHR called the involved parties to “remain calm and cooperate fully with the legal proceedings, in the interest of justice and peace.”
“The Commission reminds the Philippine National Police to exercise maximum tolerance and to ensure the safety of everyone, especially the children,” the agency said.
“The Commission reiterates to the members of KOJC the importance of respecting state forces, allowing them to carry out their duty, and refraining from any actions that may escalate tensions or obstruct the legal process,” CHR added.
The CHR also reminded KOJC members to refrain from harassing civilians doing their duty after they received a report that a special investigator from CHR Region XI was threatened and harassed by some KOJC members.
Authorities trooped to the KOJC compound in Davao City on Saturday morning to serve an arrest warrant on Quiboloy.
During the police operation, a male KOJC member died due to a heart attack.
In a Super Radyo DzBB interview on Sunday, KOJC legal counsel Atty. Israelito Torreon said four other KOJC members had a heart attack while 16 were injured.
“5 a.m. kahapon, pumasok sila kasi in-allow namin for them to get inside kaya lang before doon sa 30 minutes na ibinigay na iopen yung gate, pumasok na pala sila sa likod at nagtapon ng tear gas na ikinamatay ng isa,” Torreon said.
(5 a.m. yesterday, they entered because we allowed them to enter. But just before that, in the 30 minutes given to open the gate, they entered from the back and threw tear gas that led to the death of one of our members.)
“Hindi lisensiya ang warrant na gawin nilang garrison o gawin mong nang sariling bahay yung isang establisimyento. Ngayon lang ako nakakita na arrest warrant, more than 24 hours na sila sa lugar, mag 48 hours na,” he added.
(A warrant is not a license to make the compound a garrison or to make an establishment their house. It’s my first time witnessing that an arrest warrant is being served for more than 24 hours. They have been here for almost 48 hours.
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.
Quiboloy has denied the charges filed against him.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
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