MANILA – Former president Rodrigo Duterte is considering taking legal action against the authorities who raided properties of religious leader Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City earlier this week.
In a statement, Duterte said the raids conducted by the Philippine National Police – Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) were an “overkill in any language” and “cannot go unpunished.”
Duterte, who was named the administrator of the properties of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founded by Quiboloy, said the police did not present any search warrants when they raided the properties owned by the KOJC.
“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,” said Duterte.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am constrained to take action against all those responsible for the coordinated but illegal raid. Notwithstanding my personal convictions, the law must be upheld,” he added.
The former Chief Executive further said he considers the raid as an act of “trespass” and “sent the wrong signal that this country has become a police state with no respect for the law and religious institutions.”
“It is unfortunate that the obsession of this administration to demonize Pastor Quiboloy even before he could be convicted by a court of law is a clear maneuver to divert attention from the deepening crisis spawned by corruption, incompetence, and abuse of authority,” said Duterte.
“Let this be a warning and a lesson for all those who follow and implement illegal and unlawful orders that there are grave consequences for blind obedience,” the former President further said.
The PNP-SAF raided several properties owned by KOJC in Davao City, Samal Island, and Sarangani to serve an arrest warrant to the controversial televangelist on early Monday morning.
According to the KOJC, at least three members from their ranks were injured in the short melee with authorities, while nine church members were arrested or handcuffed by the police for allegedly carrying bolos during the raid.
Quiboloy has a warrant of arrest from Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12 for violating Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law, specifically the provision on sexual abuse of minor and maltreatment./PN
