7 PNP personnel hurt during KJC rally in Davao

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo —INQUIRER.net/Faith Argosino

MANILA, Philippines — Seven personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) sustained injuries in various parts of their bodies during a tense standoff with rallying members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in Davao City on Sunday night.

PNP spokesperson Jean Fajardo revealed this in a press conference on Monday when asked for an update on the protest, where KJC members blocked a portion of the national highway in the province—from the KJC compound to the exit of Davao International Airport.

READ: Davao police: KJC rally ‘intentionally blocked’ national highway

“’Yung mga pulis po natin nasaktan kagabi: May mga pulis na may basag ang nose bridge, maraming galos, maraming sugat sa paa at mga kamay (Our police were hurt last night; some of them have a broken nose bridge, as well as many scratches and wounds on their feet and hands.),” Fajardo said.

“’Di po tayo ang nagsimula ng gulo, in fact, hindi nanghuli ang mga kapulisan kahapon because they want to deescalate ’yung tense situation kahapon kahit na binato tayo ng mga monoblock (We were not the ones who started the clash, in fact, the police did not arrest anyone yesterday because they wanted to de-escalate the tense situation even though KJC members threw monoblock chairs at them.),” she added.

Fajardo revealed that one sustained wounds on his head and nape, another had a bruise on his right cheekbone, while others had bruises on his right foot, a wound on the back of his head, a left knee injury, and a wound on his left wrist.

Of the seven, six were transported to the hospital, while one was treated on-site.

Over the weekend, around 2,000 members of the Philippine National Police raided the KJC compound in Buhangin District, Davao City, to serve arrest warrants for the fugitive televangelist, Apollo Quiboloy.

Additionally, two alleged victims of human trafficking were rescued from the KJC compound on Sunday.

Davao police are continuously searching the sprawling 30-hectare compound and are “more than confident” that Quiboloy is still inside.

Also on Monday, Fajardo said the entrance to the underground bunker of the KJC compound in embattled Quiboloy will likely be found soon.

Fajardo said the ground-penetrating radar device the authorities have utilized is detecting “signs of life” in an underground area spanning 20-30 meters.