Press Release - Dela Rosa: Privilege speech Listen to the heartbeat of the people

SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA

Mr. President, dear colleagues, good afternoon.

Today I rise on a matter of personal and collective privilege with the hope that the heartbeat and cries of the people from Davao City be heard in this august chamber.

Mr. President, Article II Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that:

"The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people."

Out of all the government agencies, it is the Philippine National Police which is known by the public to have the motto "to serve and protect". Its mandate is to serve and protect the people through enforcement of all laws and ordinances.

Napakaimportante na maging tapat ang PNP sa kanilang tungkulin: panindigan at mag-implementa ng rule of law para sa mas maayos at matiwasay na komunidad. Ngunit, sa pagtupad sa kanilang tungkulin, importante rin na ginagampanan nila ito nang may respeto sa human rights, hindi lamang ng iilan, kundi ng bawat miyembro ng komunidad.

Sinumpaang tungkulin ng ating PNP na magpatupad ng batas para protektahan ang buhay at ari-arian ng mga mamamayan. Ngunit, paano kung sa pagpapatupad ng batas ay nalalagay sa panganib ang buhay at ari-arian ng mga tao?

Ito po ang hinaing ng mga miyembro ng Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), mga residente sa KOJC compound, pati na rin ng mga estudyante at propesor ng Jose Maria College Foundation Incorporated of Davao City.

On August 24, 2024, around 2,000 cops from Police Regional Office (PRO) 10, 11, 12, and 13 were deployed to implement the warrant of arrest against the leader of KOJC Pastor Quiboloy and five others.

At this point, I want to make of record that we are not questioning the authority of the PNP to implement valid warrants of arrest issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. We are not questioning their desire to fulfill their mandate to arrest the persons subject of the warrants of arrest.

Ang tanging tanong po ng mga taga KOJC, Mr. President, ay:

&#149 Bakit kailangang magdeploy ng higit 2,000 na pulis mula sa iba't ibang region para mahuli ang anim na katao na miyembro ng KOJC?

&#149 Kailangan ba na sa pag-implementa ng warrant, ay magkampo sa loob at labas ng KOJC compound ang ating