‘Don’t celebrate yet’: PNP to stay at KJC compound despite court order

CONFRONTATION Members of police units in charge of civil disobedience management prepare to confront and disperse supporters of Kingdom of Jesus Christ members gathered outside the sect’s headquarters at Buhangin District in Davao City on Monday afternoon. —GERMELINA LACORTE

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the religious sect Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) have no reason to celebrate as the Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel will not leave their compound in Davao City until they find fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy.

Quiboloy sympathizers in Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila City and KJC members inside the religious compound were seen celebrating after the Davao court’s issuance of a cease and desist order on Tuesday, according to a livestream of SMNI, a network affiliated with the preacher.

“Wala munang dapat ipagdiwang sa ngayon dahil malinaw ang nakasaad sa protection order; they may have a different interpretation [pero] respetuhin po natin ang decision at order ng korte,” said PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo in a press briefing.

(They have no reason to celebrate for now because the protection order is clear; they may have a different interpretation but let’s respect the decision and order of the court.)

Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 15 on Tuesday (Aug 27) ordered PNP “to immediately cease and desist from any act or omission that threatens the life, liberty or security as well as the properties of the petitioners.”

READ: Court in Davao grants temporary protection order to Quiboloy’s KJC

The court also ordered the removal of all forms of barricades, barriers, or blockades that prevent KJC members access to the compound.

But Fajardo said it did not say that the policemen should leave the compound, contradicting the claims of SMNI.

“Wala po doon sinasabi na malinaw napinahihinto ng implementation ng warrants of arrest against kay Quiboloy at apat pa, at wala sinasabi na doon na pinapaalis tayo doon sa loob ng [KJC],” Fajardo said.

(The order did not clearly state that the implementation of warrants of arrest against Quiboloy should be stopped, and it was not stated that we should leave the KJC premises.)

“Ibig sabihin, tuloy-tuloy po itong implementation ng warrant of arrest,” she further said.

(Meaning, the implementation of warrants of arrest is ongoing.)

On Saturday, around 2,000 members of the PNP raided the 30-hectare KJC compound.

Quiboloy is believed to be hiding inside the compound, according to Davao police regional office director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III.

The religious leader and the five co-accused face child abuse cases before the Davao City court. One of them has been under the custody of authorities since July.

Furthermore, Quiboloy has standing arrest warrants for human trafficking issued by a Pasig City court.