Police officers from three other regions have been deployed to the compound of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) in Davao City amid the continuing search for its wanted leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the Philippine National Police said Wednesday.
The Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 15 also clarified the temporary protection order (TPO) granted in favor
of KOJC does not nullify the arrest warrant against Quiboloy.
“To emphasize, the issued TPO did not cancel or nullify the processes related to warrants of arrest.both serve different purposes and are not contradictory with each other,” the court said.
For his part, PNP Director for Police Community Relations Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba said personnel form the Police Regional Offices (PRO) 10 (Northern Mindanao), 12 (Soccksargen), and 13 (Caraga) were deployed to augment the civil disturbance management (CDM) force of PRO-11 (Davao) in the ongoing search.
“It’s because PRO-11 does not have enough resources in terms of human and material resources, considering this high-profile case involving the leader of a big church group. It really needs support from other units. The area is too big compared to Camp Crame, actually approximately 32 hectares, so the more than 2,000 personnel earlier deployed is, in fact, not enough,” Alba said.
He said the police officers initially deployed for the mission also have to rest, hence, the need for them to be substituted by officers from other units.
“That is the mandate of PNP – to maintain peace and order and security and safety for everyone, not only the members of KOJC, even the communities surrounding the area. This is the reason for the presence of our CDM units – to prevent other crimes from happening,” he said.
The search for Quiboloy inside the KOJC compound, which began early Saturday, is now on its sixth day, with the police still trying to find the entrance to the underground bunker where the televangelist is believed to be hiding.
As this developed, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said the TPO only mandates the removal of all forms of barricades, barriers, or blockades that prevent KOJC members from accessing the compound.
“It is important to clarify that the TPO does not hinder the enforcement of the lawful arrest warrants issued against KOJC leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and four others. As affirmed by the Supreme Court, this order does not obstruct the PNP’s duty to serve these warrants, and we will continue to do so with the highest respect for legal procedures and human rights,” Marbil said.
The Department of Justice said the TPO was already “moot and academic considering the issues underscored therein have all been addressed.”
“The DOJ stands in solidarity with the PNP in upholding the rule of law and in this quest for justice,” the department said.
“Police operatives allowed free ingress and egress to the compound, hence, the barriers or barricades surrounding the area did not prevent the flow of basic human needs for KOJC members but merely places added security to help law enforcers in advancing their purpose,” the DOJ added.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos renewed his call for Quiboloy to surrender.
“If he did not commit a crime, he should face this and not be scared of it. To get everything done, let’s face the court, Pastor Quiboloy,” Abalos added.
A Pasig City court issued an arrest warrant against Quiboloy and his accomplices for human trafficking in April, while the Davao City Regional Trial Court ordered his arrest for violations of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
Quiboloy also has a standing warrant of arrest from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for alleged frauds in the United States.
Quiboloy, a self-proclaimed “Son of God” and ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, was charged by the US Justice Department in 2021 with sex-trafficking of girls and women aged 12 to 25 to work as personal assistants or “pastorals” who were allegedly required to have sex with him.
He earlier said he wanted a written guarantee from the government that “there will be no American interference and no extraordinary rendition” in the case if he surrenders to face charges in the Philippines.
“Unless you give me the guarantee I’m looking for, you won’t see me. Go ahead and hunt me down,” Quiboloy said.
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