DILG: Serving warrant vs Quiboloy not included in TPO

The serving of the arrest warrant to fugitive religious leader Apollo Quiboloy will continue as the temporary protection order (TPO) does not direct the police to stop its operation, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Tuesday.

“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.

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.

On August 24, the PNP trooped 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, GMA Integrated News