KOJC gets temporary protection order; PNP search continues

MANILA, Philippines — The Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 15 yesterday issued a temporary protection order directing the Philippine National Police (PNP) 11 to “cease and desist any act that threatens the life, liberty and security” of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) members.

The court order was issued four days after 2,000 PNP personnel raided the KOJC compound to serve arrest warrants on its leader Apollo Quiboloy and five of his co-accused.

Judge Mario Duaves ordered the PNP to “remove all forms of barricades, barriers or blockades that bar the access to and from the subject compound and hinder petitioners’ religious, academic and proprietary rights.”

The Supreme Court said yesterday that a TPO does not deter the service of the arrest warrants. Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos also said the police search for Quiboloy inside the KOJC compound would continue.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 chief Nicolas Torre III said the PNP would file a motion seeking clarification on the TPO. Torre maintained that the TPO is not an order for the PNP to leave the KOJC compound, a belief that KOJC lawyer Israelito Torreon challenged.

Despite the order, Torre said that the police will not leave the compound and that they will continue their search for Quiboloy, who they believe to be hiding in a bunker within the 30-hectare compound.

Torreon, for his part, said that Torre’s declarations are contrary to the letter of the order and vowed to continue to fight it out in court.

“Your overwhelming presence there threatens the sense of security of the members there who are unarmed,” he said, adding that they will file a manifestation in court tomorrow.

The Supreme Court, for its part, said the TPO issued by a Davao court in favor of the KOJC will not stop authorities from serving the arrest warrant against Quiboloy.

“This does not deter the service of the warrant,” SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting told reporters.

Police forces will continue hunting Quiboloy at the KOJC compound in Davao City even if there’s a TPO from a local court, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said yesterday.

“It will continue and I guarantee that we will still proceed with the