Police fail to arrest Quiboloy during raid at KOJC compound

Source: MindaNews

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 10 June) - Elite police forces in full battle gear stormed the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Buhangin, this city before dawn Monday, June 10, but failed to arrest fugitive preacher Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the self-appointed "Son of God."

Members of the Philippine National Police, including Special Action Forces and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, from Regions 10, 11 and 12 arrived as early as 4:10 a.m. to serve the warrants of arrest against Quiboloy, SMNI News Channel, the broadcast media arm of the Quiboloy-founded KOJC, reported.

Quiboloy evaded arrest despite being hounded by three warrants of arrest: from the Senate on March 19, a court in Davao City on April 1 and a court in Pasig on April 11 for various crimes, including alleged human trafficking, child abuse, and sexual abuse.

They were served at around 5:00 a.m.

Quiboloy was not arrested as of 1:39 p.m. Monday, however.

In a video footage from SMNI, troops asked KOJC officials to enter the compound, who initially denied their request. The troops later on put up ladders in an attempt to enter the compound, after they were initially denied entry.

Authorities reportedly had difficulty serving the arrest warrants earlier because some Quiboloy supporters formed a barricade outside the compound, which included young women and teenagers.

Major Catherine Dela Rey, Police Regional Office - 11 spokesperson, said there was "a little bit of resistance" from Quiboloy's supporters when troops served the arrest warrants.

There was a commotion between the troops and the KOJC followers, who at the time were about to start their devotional prayers, she said.

"We believe that Pastor [Quiboloy] is there, that's why we [acted with force] because there is resistance," Catherine Dela Rey, PRO-11 spokesperson told reporters Monday morning.

Despite the commotion, Dela Rey said the warrants were "peacefully" served through negotiations between KOJC's legal counsel and the police officers on the ground.

In their efforts to arrest Quiboloy, she cited Section 11, Rule 113 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, which "entails the right of a police officer to break into a building or enclosure."

"An officer, in order to make an arrest either by virtue of a warrant, or without a warrant... may break into any building or enclosure where the person to be arrested is or is reasonably believed to be, if he is refused admittance thereto, after announcing his authority and purpose," the rule stated.

In an SMNI interview, KOJC legal counsel, Israelito Torreon, said he was "shocked" that the police "could not present a search warrant."

Torreon said it was his co-legal counsel, Kaye Laurente, who allowed entry to the police officers after Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte called her "to allow the troops to enter."

KOJC members protect Quiboloy

KOJC supporters asked by MindaNews said their devotional prayers were halted due to the "inhumane, unfair arrest attempt" against their spiritual leader Quiboloy.

Gradually, the KOJC members inside of the compound went out, rallying in front of the police men. They flocked outside starting 5:15 a.m., led by their ministers John Torno and Carlo Catiil.

Catiil, who can be seen leading a crowd of KOJC members, told the media on the ground that police troops allegedly barged "inhumanely and mercilessly" into the compound, despite pleas for them to wait for a KOJC lawyer.

"Wala moy makuha dinhi! Amoa ning compound, wala mo'y karapatan mosulod dinhi (There's no one to arrest here. This is our compound, you have no right to enter it)," Catiil repeatedly yelled.

The KOJC followers also shouted "Resign, Marcos!", "Media Bayaran! (paid media)", "Hustisya (Justice)," and "Save Pastor," among others.

There were KOJC members who were bruised during the commotion with the arresting troops.

A KOJC member shared that she was allegedly stepped upon by one of the troops, bruising the right side of her face.

"Wala na nako nakit-i kinsa ang nakatamak nako kay naka-mask sila unya paspas [ang panghitabo] (I have not seen who stepped on me, they were wearing masks and it happened very quickly)," said Jasmin Bayaras, a KOJC member and a "Quiboloy scholar."

Another KOJC worker, security guard John Paul Pantoja, claimed he was "choked using his ID sling" during the entry of the troops.

Dela Rey said the entry of troops is "just part of the standard operating procedures when they initiate an arrest." (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)