A Senate body composed of 12 senators is coming to Davao City to take a closer look on the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) standoff, a move welcomed by the church’s legal counsel.
The Committee on Justice and Human Rights, chaired by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, will conduct an ocular inspection and public hearing on Friday in Davao City to tackle the ongoing operation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Buhangin, Davao City.
Based on the notice of ocular inspection and public hearing shared online, the inspection is expected to be participated by Senators Raffy Tulfo, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Mark Villar, Nancy Binay, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
“I called Sen. (Ronald) Dela Rosa about it because I felt that if the Senate conducts an investigation we will be able to have access at the tunneling activities being done which I really feel could not be legalized by a mere possession of a warrant of arrest,” said KOJC legal counsel lawyer Israelito Torreon in a press conference on Wednesday.
CLEANING UP?
Torreon posted that after it was reported that the Senate would conduct an ocular inspection at KOJC compound, Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel allegedly smuggled stones, gravel, and bags of cement inside the KOJC cathedral early morning of Wednesday.
Presumably, the construction materials are reportedly meant to repair the alleged diggings and damages done out of the tunneling activity.
The PNP led by Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III are now on their 12th day staying inside the KOJC compound since the implementation of the warrant of arrest against KOJC founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and four co-accused.
KOJC alleged that the police were digging and building a tunnel in the basement of the Jose Maria College (JMC) building. Photos and videos of the digging were also shared online. Despite the circulating videos and photos, the allegation was vehemently denied by Torre.
