DAVAO, Philippines – Tensions ran high in a village in Davao City as followers of fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), confronted law enforcers attempting to serve arrest warrants early Monday, June 10.
Special units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from various regions were deployed to apprehend Quiboloy, who faces serious charges. In Cagayan de Oro, a police official from the PNP in Northern Mindanao confirmed to Rappler that elite police forces had been dispatched to Davao City and had trained for the raid the previous week.
Police officers, equipped with anti-riot gear and shields, took positions outside the front gate of the KOJC compound. Hundreds of KOJC members gathered outside the property in Buhangin, Davao City, to protest the PNP’s actions, reported local broadcaster DXDC-Radio Mindanao Network.
The PNP’s move followed the recent relief of the city’s police chief and over 30 officers in the Davao region amid an investigation into the shooting deaths of seven suspects during anti-drug operations.
Supporters of Quiboloy, holding placards and shouting slogans like “Justice for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy,” “Protect our Constitution,” and “Stand for truth,” condemned the police operation. A video on Facebook captured one protester with a megaphone declaring, “We are not bad people!”
Quiboloy has been ordered arrested by regional courts in Davao and Pasay on charges of sexual abuse of a minor, child abuse, and human trafficking. Similar charges were filed against five KOJC associates: Ingrid Canada, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Jackielyn Roy, and Sylvia Cemañes.
KOJC members criticized the PNP’s actions as unjust, insisting on Quiboloy’s innocence and claiming he is a victim of government harassment. One member described a near-violent encounter with PNP-Special Action Force members during a commotion, accusing the police of rudeness and aggression.
“God will deal with them. I hope justice will be served for what they did. What they did was wrong. Earlier, one of them almost hit me, that guy. They are really rude!” a member told DXDC.
KOJC minister Carlo Catiil expressed frustration, stating that police entered the compound despite requests to wait for a KOJC lawyer.
As of now, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and the PNP-Davao regional office have not issued any statements regarding the incident.
Source: Rappler.com