Duterte to sue police over Quiboloy arrest try

MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte said he would file charges against the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the Monday raid on the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) compound in Davao City.

In a statement on Friday, Duterte — a staunch supporter of the preacher — called the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group's (CIDG) raid to arrest Quiboloy, an «overkill in any language» and a «clear violation of the law.»

«Except for the over-publicized arrest warrants, the raiders did not present any search warrant in all of the church properties [they raided],» the former president said.

Duterte, who serves as the administrator of church properties, said he would take «legal and appropriate action» against the police over what he called a «day of infamy» to the church's members and to «all citizens who uphold the rule of law.»

«While I am saddened by this, given my personal, and in the past, official, support for the police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, my duties as Administrator of Church Properties demand that I take legal and appropriate action,» he said.

«In line with this, I have ordered not only the preparation of affidavits of all members aggrieved and traumatized by the said unfortunate incident but also an inventory of church properties destroyed as a consequence,» he added.

Duterte said that it was unfortunate that the administration of his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is obsessed with demonizing Quiboloy, who has always supported the former chief executive, is a «clear maneuver» in diverting attention from other issues in the country, particularly corruption, incompetence and abuse of authority.

Police operatives on Monday raided the KoJC compound, armed with a warrant for the arrest of Quiboloy, who is wanted in the United States for labor and sexual trafficking.