Former President Rodrigo Duterte claims the administration is “demonizing” Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy, who has pending warrants of arrest for abuse and trafficking cases, to divert public attention from “corruption, incompetence and abuse of authority” in the country.
Duterte’s claim was made in a statement read before the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, which is holding a hearing into alleged excessive use of force in a June 10 attempt by the Philippine National Police to serve the warrants on Quiboloy at his properties in Davao City.
“It is unfortunate that the obssession 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 crises pawned by corruption, incompetence and abuse of authority,” Duterte said.
“It is with heavy heart that I am constrained to take action against all those responsible for the coordinated but illegal raid.”
The raid and the political backlash to it puts Duterte at odds with the Philippine National Police, an institution he vigorously defended during his presidency and which said the operations followed proper protocol.
Duterte said the police did not present search warrants during the raids, which he also said were illegal and were “overkill in any language.”
Duterte, who is administrator of KOJC’s properties, said he will take legal action over the raids.
The Senate hearing was prompted by a resolution filed by Sen. Robinhood Padilla and was presided over by Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, both of Duterte’s PDP party.
