Marcos: No overkill in hunt for Quiboloy

PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday defended there is no overkill in the PNP’s manhunt for fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy and the ongoing search of the 30-hectare Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City.

The President likewise said no human rights were violated in the police’s continuing effort to serve warrants of arrest against Quiboloy and five KOJC members who are facing charges of child abuse and human trafficking before Davao and Pasig city courts.

In a chance interview on the sidelines of the oath taking of several media groups in Malacañang, Marcos said the deployment of thousands of policemen was necessary to ensure the peace, safety and security in the area.

“The reason we did this was so that we can contain the peace. The only way to maintain the peace is to make sure that the area is safe and is secure. And considering that this is a 30-hectare compound, kailangan mo talaga ng maraming tao. Hindi mo powedeng gawin ito ng isang dosenang pulis (The reason we did this was so that we can contain the peace.

The only way to maintain the peace is to make sure that the area is safe and is secure. And considering that this is a 30-hectare compound, you really need a lot of people. You cannot do this with just a dozen police),” he said.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte and members of the religious group have called the police operation an overkill, noting the presence of more than 2,000 cops scour every inch of the compound to find Quiboloy and his co-accused.

The PNP search started last Saturday and continued until yesterday.

Vice President Sara Duterte has also slammed what she said was “gross police abuses” related to the ongoing search, citing alleged injuries to the pastor’s supporters and the death of one member.

But Marcos said that contrary to claims of KOJC followers, the police were unarmed and do not have with them tear gas or guns.

“So anong human rights violation? Marami lang (sila). (So, what human rights violation are they talking about? There are just many police),” the President said.

Marcos said he understands the disagreement and even anger felt by KOJC members with the government, but he emphasized that the police are just doing