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 (PNP) said Wednesday.
In a phone interview, PNP Director for Police Community Relations, Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba, said personnel of the Police Regional Offices (PRO) 10 (Northern Mindanao), 12 (Soccksargen), and 13 (Caraga) have been 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.
"The CDM should be there. 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 added.
The search for Quiboloy inside the KOJC compound, which began early Saturday, is on its fifth day, with the police still trying to find the entrance to the underground bunker where the televangelist is believed to be hiding.
Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil acknowledged the temporary protection order (TPO) issued by the Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15, mandating 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 in a separate statement.
He said the actions taken by the PNP, including the establishment of security measures around the KOJC compound, are solely in line with its responsibility to carry out "proper and lawful execution of justice" and are not meant to infringe upon the rights or freedom of KOJC members.
The PNP earlier said it would file a clarificatory petition before the lower court regarding the TPO.
Appeal for peace
The Archdiocese of Davao has called for calm and restraint between the police and KOJC members amid the ongoing search for Quiboloy.
“As the Shepherd of the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Davao, I am morally impelled to speak out, for and in behalf of peace, and to make an appeal for calmness and sobriety among the people of Davao City, especially those involved in the ongoing situation at the KOJC Compound here,” Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said in a pastoral appeal.
Valles also urged for an immediate peaceful resolution to the situation.
“Let us respect the humanity of everyone, and their inherent rights. Let sobriety take the upper hand in our judgment and action,” the Davao prelate added.
He also echoed the call of the people of the city to respect the rule of law.
“Careful discernment, and prudence, and the regard for the basic civil liberties guaranteed by our constitution must be observed in compliance with the directives of the Courts,” he added.
Media harassment condemned
The National Press Club (NPC), meanwhile, condemned KOJC supporters for harassing several media members while trying to report the situation as authorities attempted to serve Quiboloy an arrest warrant.
“We at the NPC condemned the reported harassment of our fellow journalists. It is not proper for them to get bad treatment since they are just reporting fairly what is happening in the implementation of the arrest warrant, nothing more, nothing less,” NPC president Leonel Abasola said in a statement on Wednesday.
The media members from various outfits immediately reported the incident to the Buhangin Police Station. They are Edith Caduaya and Eugene Dango of Newsline Philippines; Ian Carl Espinosa, Antonio L. Colina IV, and Toto Lozano of MindaNews; Arnel Rebayla and Ramel Domingo of PTV 4; and Germelina Lacorte of Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The incident started when Caduaya requested the authorities to allow the news teams of TV5 and UNTV to pass through the anti-riot police barricade as their vehicles were parked just behind the line.
Quiboloy’s supporters hurled insults at the media personnel, calling them “biased media, bayaran (paid media)” while other KOJC members threw bottled water and slammed media vehicles.
“We at the NPC will never condone such attack on the freedom of our brothers and sisters to do their avowed duty to report to the public what is really happening in real-time,” Abasola said.
He said the affected media members may seek help from the Presidential Task Force on Media Security. (with Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
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