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 — Five political parties expressed their support on Tuesday for the massive police operation in Davao City against fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, amid criticism from his supporters and his own political backers that the manhunt was already overstepping legal bounds and trampling on human rights.
The administration-led Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas gave its virtual blessing to the Philippine National Police, which since Saturday had mobilized about 2,000 personnel to surround and scour the 30-hectare compound of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), where Quiboloy is believed to be in hiding.
READ: SC clarifies TPO issuance at Quiboloy compound: Arrest warrant remains
“The Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, composed of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), Lakas-CMD, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Nacionalista Party, and National Unity Party, stands firmly in support of the Philippine National Police as they carry out their lawful duties,” the political group said in a statement.
Following Sara statement
The alliance, it added, “is resolute in its belief that no one is above the law. We call upon all Filipinos to remain vigilant but calm, trusting in the processes that safeguard our democracy.”
As the police operation entered its fourth day on Tuesday, Alyansa urged the public “to remain vigilant but calm while trusting the processes safeguarding democracy.”
The statement was signed by party leaders that include Secretary Anton Lagdameo (PFP executive vice president), Speaker Martin Romualdez (Lakas-CMD president), former Secretary Ronaldo Puno (NUP chair), former Senate President Vicente Sotto III (NPC chair), and Misamis Oriental Rep. Yevgeny Vincent Emano (NP national director).
It was issued a day after Vice President Sara Duterte, whose family is a longtime ally of Quiboloy, criticized the PNP for “no longer following proper procedure in implementing the warrant” for the pastor’s arrest.
According to Duterte, the PNP operation had already employed “excessive force against innocent citizens [in its] unauthorized occupation at the KOJC compound.”
The Vice President’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was named administrator of the KJC properties in March this year.
Other supporters
Meanwhile, the Eastern Visayas police and Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone also supported the PNP actions.
In separate statements, the local police and Evardone said it was high time to put a stop to the illegal activities Quiboloy had been accused of, particularly child abuse, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation.
“The Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas manifests its full support to the law enforcement operation being undertaken by Police Regional Office 11 in Davao City purposely to serve the warrants of arrest issued by the courts against [Quiboloy],” said the regional police command led by Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Pawid.
Brig. Gen. Nicholas Torre III, the current Davao police regional commander leading the hunt for the pastor, once served as police director of Samar province.
Evardone expressed support for Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, who had called for Quiboloy’s capture.
“There is no place in our society for these heinous crimes which leave a deep and lasting impact on their victims,” the governor said, referring to the charges filed against the pastor. “Our children and families deserve protection, and it is our duty to ensure that justice is served against those who commit these atrocities.”—with reports from Melvin Gascon and Joey Gabieta