Sara slams KOJC raid; PNP won’t leave without Quiboloy

MANILA, Philippines — Following the raid by police on the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao over the weekend to arrest pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday issued a statement asking forgiveness from KOJC members for urging them to vote for President Marcos in the 2022 elections.

“I vehemently condemn the gross abuse of police power in the takeover of the KOJC compound earlier today, which led to the harassment of religious worshipers, the abuse of minors, and the unnecessary loss of life,” she said.

Duterte called the raid a betrayal of public trust and a violation of constitutionally protected rights.

“These acts are not only a blatant violation of Constitutionally protected rights, but a betrayal of the trust that we, Filipinos, place in the very institution sworn to protect and serve us,” the Vice President added.

Duterte said while she was not opposed to any lawful implementation of arrest warrants, the use of violence against innocent civilians was unacceptable.

“I also want to ask for forgiveness from all the members and devotees of (KOJC), for encouraging and asking you to vote for Bongbong Marcos Jr. in 2022,” Duterte said of her former running mate. “May you forgive me. You deserve better. Filipinos deserve better.”

More than 2,000 police officers backed by riot squads swooped down on Quiboloy’s 30-hectare compound in Davao on Saturday, which is also home to some of his followers, with the hope of finally apprehending the fugitive pastor.

Thousands of police – led by Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III – resumed their operation early yesterday morning to serve the warrant of arrest against Quiboloy, believed to still be holed up inside the KOJC compound.

So far, a 51-year-old KOJC member manning a watchtower has died of a heart attack, while some 18 others said they were injured during the weekend raid.

Quiboloy’s camp also accused police officers of irregularities in enforcing the arrest warrant, as well as forced entry and using tear gas canisters despite a 30-minute warning given to people within the compound to open the gate for the operatives.

Duterte and her family have ties with Quiboloy, who is a friend and spiritual adviser of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The Vice President, who severed ties with the Marcos administration, said she was curious if the police’s “excessive force” against Quiboloy and his flock was due to their being Duterte supporters.

“I also couldn’t help but ask myself if the use of extraordinary force and unjust abuse of ordinary Filipinos, in order to enforce such an arrest warrant, is because the accused is a known Duterte supporter,” she said.

Close search of buildings

PRO 11’s Torre said they only covered 10 out of the more than 40 structures they were supposed to search in an attempt to serve the arrest warrant against Quiboloy and his assistants Ingrid Canada, Inting Canada and Jacklyn Roy.

He said they are certain Quiboloy is still inside the compound, which houses the KOJC Cathedral, Jose Maria College, Apollo Air Hangar, Sonshine Media Network Inc. office and studio, Bible school and the dormitories for hundreds of full-time KOJC workers.

“We started a close examination and search of the buildings. The ground-penetrating radar is yielding positive results, and we are confident we will soon locate the individuals we are looking for,” Torre reported.

The use of ground-penetrating radar, typically employed in rescue operations, has provided the PNP with crucial insights.

“It detects heartbeat, movement, and heat signatures. We are getting closer,” Torre said.

When asked about the possibility of Quiboloy being inside the compound, Torre expressed confidence, saying it’s “just a matter of time” before they locate him.

Quiboloy’s lawyer Israelito Torreon asked why the KOJC compound was being turned into a garrison.

“Please enlighten me, where in the Rules of Criminal Procedure can a warrant of arrest be used as a legal ground to turn a private property into a garrison? Can it be used as a legal excuse to make such property as your ‘rest house?’ The KOJC property is a property owned by a different entity, separate and distinct from Pastor (Quiboloy),” Torreon said.

KOJC executive administrator Marlon Acobo was also physically prevented from entering the compound yesterday morning.

The operation at the KOJC compound on Saturday marked the second attempt by law enforcement to apprehend the fugitive pastor, following a previous raid in June that also failed to capture him.

The PNP defended its decision to deploy a significant number of officers in serving the warrant of arrest against Quiboloy.

In an interview over dzBB yesterday, PNP’s chief publicist Col. Jean Fajardo explained that the scale of the operation was necessary due to the size of the 30-hectare KOJC compound, and the resistance encountered from Quiboloy’s supporters.

“If you were to see the location where we implemented the warrant of arrest, it’s massive. We’re talking about more or less 30 hectares, and we witnessed the resistance from Pastor Quiboloy’s members and supporters,” Fajardo said, adding that deploying only 50 or 100 officers would have made it easy for the sect faithful to push back.

She noted that even with the substantial police presence, officers faced verbal abuse and other forms of resistance from those within the compound.

However, Fajardo emphasized that the PNP remains committed to executing the warrant issued by the court.

“This is not about targeting a religious group or infringing on their freedom of religion. This is a mandate of the PNP to implement the warrant of arrest issued by the court,” Fajardo said.

Quiboloy and his co-accused are facing serious charges, including child abuse, sex trafficking and the sexual abuse of minors.

According to Fajardo, the resistance from Quiboloy’s followers was substantial, with efforts made to delay the PNP’s movements within the compound.

Despite this, she said that no firearms were observed among the supporters.

Authorities were prepared for an extended operation, with plans in place to rotate personnel to ensure continuous enforcement of the warrant.

Fajardo reiterated the PNP’s appeal for Quiboloy to surrender and face the charges against him, assuring him that his safety would be guaranteed. — Mark Ernest Villeza, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Janvic Mateo