MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has apologized to members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) for urging them to vote for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the 2022 national elections.
The Vice President made the statement following the Davao regional police’s attempt to serve an arrest warrant on Pastor Apollo Quiboloy at the religious group’s compound in Davao City on Saturday.
“Nais ko ring humingi ng kapatawaran sa lahat ng miyembro, deboto at bumubuo ng Kingdom of Jesus Christ, sa paghikayat at pakiusap ko sa inyong iboto si Bongbong Marcos Jr. noong 2022. Nawa’y mapatawad ninyo ako,” Duterte-Carpio said.
“Hindi ko rin maiwasang matanong sa sarili kung ang paggamit ba ng di pangkaraniwang pwersa at di makatarungang pang-aabuso sa ordinaryong Pilipino, upang maipatupad ang naturang warrant of arrest, ay dahil sa ang akusado ay isang kilalang Duterte supporter,” the Vice President added.
A member of KOJC died of heart attack following the Davao regional police’s operation inside the KOJC compound in Buhangin District on early Saturday. The policemen are still inside the premises as of Sunday.
Police Regional Office 11 Director Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III has ordered his police not to leave the KOJC compound until Quiboloy and his co-accused are arrested.
Duterte-Carpio said she has nothing against the serving of arrest warrant against Quiboloy and his co-accused if it will be done the proper way and without the police abusing their power.
“Hindi ko tinututulan ang implementasyon ng anumang warrant of arrest na naaayon sa batas. Ngunit kailanman ay hindi katanggap-tanggap ang paggamit ng dahas laban sa mga inosenteng mamamayan at mga deboto ng KOJC,” Duterte-Carpio said.
“I vehemently condemn the gross abuse of police power in the takeover of the KOJC compound, which led to the harassment of religious worshipers, the abuse of minors, and the unnecessary loss of life,” she added.
“These acts are not only a blatant violation of Constitutionally-protected rights but a betrayal of the trust that we, Filipinos, place in the very institution sworn to protect and serve us,” she further said.
The PNP first attempted to arrest Quiboloy last June 10 in Davao City. Police used ladders then to enter the compound and this caused tension between police officers and KOJC missionaries who were waiting outside the compound.
Quiboloy is facing charges under Section 5(b) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and under Section 10(a) of the same act.
The controversial pastor is also facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended, before a Pasig court./PN
