After more than eight hours of presenting evidences thru videos and photos collected since day one of the siege of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound on August 24, legal counsels of KOJC and the Philippine National Police (PNP) led by Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) Director Nicolas Torre III, expressed opposing appeals to end the standoff during the public hearing led by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Friday at the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in Davao City.
The PNP was on its 14th day inside the compound but still failed to arrest KOJC founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his four-co-accused.
The group of KOJC appealed for the PNP to leave the compound so that they could return to their normal lives.
Lawyer Dinah Tolentino, co-legal counsel of KOJC, wanted the police to pull out from KOJC so that students could return to their classes.
“I am speaking for JMCFI, sir he (Torre) already searched the JMC building several times over. More than 40 times already as my understanding. When will he stop so that the kids can go back to school?” Tolentino said.
Lawyer Israelito Torreon, legal counsel of KOJC, said the so-called service of arrest warrant has been abused to the extent that so many persons have already been sidelined and human rights have already been “wantonly violated. “
“Are we trying to say that they just want to do their supposed duty? It would be okay to violate the rights of so many people because they want to serve this warrant of arrest? And if we believe General Torre he is now on a mission to conduct more diggings not only in the SMNI studio but perhaps in the hangar and God forbid perhaps he will say later on that the heartbeat transferred in the King Dome and he will conduct his digging again in the King Dome. That is the direction that General Torre is bringing us, a rape of the 1987 Constitution,” he said.
However, Torre is firm not to leave the compound as they believe that Quiboloy is still on the property.
“We won’t stop until we arrest Pastor Quiboloy. We believe he is in the KOJC compound. If only the KOJC members would cooperate with us, we would not hurt them, we want to go into a building, so why impede us? Stay away. It’s not you we are targeting. We are looking for Apollo Quiboloy, Cresente Canada, Ingrid Canada, Sylvia Cemanes, and Jackielyn Roy. Let us look for them freely and these areas. We have positive information that Pastor Quiboloy is in the compound. Pasensiya na kayo. Isa lang talaga. There is only one person that can end this all, the one claiming to be the son of God,” Torre said.
Torre also said that he does not take joy in his job.
To this Tolentino commented, “I can see that Gen. Torre did not take any joy in this and he is saying that it is a dereliction of your duty if you do not implement the warrant of arrest. On the other hand, I would like to emphasize in the exercise of your duties, these constitute a repeat on the constitutional rights of other people, right to religious freedom, right to education, right to life, liberty, and property of third persons who are not part of these warrant of arrests,” she said.
Meanwhile, Torre said PRO 11 presented recommendations that include clearing all Quiboloy’s supporters from the compound to allow them full access and thorough search for the fugitives and only their (KOJC) lawyers will be allowed to join the searchers.
Torre also said that they are not preventing the students of JMC to continue with their studies.
“There is one person we can ask to end all of this, I think we know who he is,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa appealed to Torre to give the KOJC members relief and the chance for them to return to their normal lives.
“Tapos kung meron na naman kayong positive info go ahead, you arrest Pastor Quiboloy kung andiyan siya sa loob. The way I see it right now, however, you defend your position, you are at the losing end. I am suggesting to you kung talagang after 13 days of occupation of the compound still hindi ninyo na aresto si Pastor Quiboloy, I think it is high time for you to make a tactical retreat, for the meantime. Continuously staying there is detrimental to both of the parties,” he said.
He also appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to listen and act on the issue.
“I am appealing to you Mr. President please listen to these people. Sana ibalik mo ang buhay ng mga taong ito sa normal not only to the KOJC members but also to your policemen. Please act on this. I hope you are listening,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa decided to suspend the investigation.
“I am only suspending it tonight but it will continue. I would like to appeal in your senses (KOJC and PNP) for peace, sobriety, and cooperation and respect the human rights of everyone, members of the KOJC and the police force,” he said.
On the other hand, Senators Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and Robinhood Padilla, who were present during the hearing, also expressed their hopes for the resolution of the issue.
Go called for an end to the stand off between the police and the members of KOJC.
“We just want peace and for this stand off to end. Hindi po kailanman magiging susi ang karahasan sa pagkamit natin ng hustisya,” he said.
Padilla called on authorities to uphold the separation of church and state in implementing the warrants issued against religious leader Quiboloy.
“Sa usapin na ito, wala po kami ditong pinapanigan, ang pinapanigan natin ay kung ano ang sinasabi ng Saligang Batas. ‘Yon po ang susundin natin,” Padilla said.
