MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said police officers searching for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City were unarmed.
In an interview at Malacañang, the Chief Executive insisted that the police officers deployed for the serving of Quiboloy’s arrest warrant did not commit human rights violations as they have no arms and were there to ensure peace.
“I think what they’re talking about, political na ‘yan. Hindi na totoo ‘yan,” President Marcos said. “Lahat ng pumasok na pulis hindi armado, walang baril kahit isa. Hindi gumamit ng tear gas, so anong human rights violation?”
“Meron bang human rights violation kung maraming pulis (na dineploy)? I don’t think so. The reason we did this was so that we can contain the peace,” the Chief Executive added.
Footages and pictures posted on SMNI News’ social media pages showed the police officers had their firearms around their body when they started their operation inside KOJC compound on Saturday.
President Marcos also defended the huge number of police officers deployed to arrest Quiboloy and his co-accused saying that the KOJC compound was too huge of a place for a few policemen.
“Considering that this is a 30-heactare compound, kailangan mo talaga ng maraming tao. Hindi mo puwedeng gawin ito ng isang dosenang pulis lang,” President Marcos said.
“Hindi na bale ‘yung lumalaban o nagre-resist, nanghaharang, hindi na bale muna ‘yun, (‘yung mga pulis na pumunta dun) para lang ‘yung pag-inspeksyon ng 30 hectares kailangan mo na agad ng maraming tao,” he added.
Meanwhile, Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Benhur Abalos said that there are indications that Quiboloy is still inside the KOJC compound.
“Without compromising ‘yung operations ng police, malakas ang indication na nandoon, in fact madami na kaming tao at mga makina doon para mahanap siya both above ground and underground,” Abalos said on Wednesday.
“What is important is that this is a court process at ang sinasabi sa pulis, hanapin ninyo si Quiboloy so hahanapin namin talaga siya and there are all indications that shows that Quiboloy is in that area,” he added.
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
