DILG to challenge before CA protection order on Quiboloy-owned KJC

Department of the Interior and Local Government Sec. Benjamin Abalos Jr.  —INQUIRER.net/Ryan Leagogo

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will challenge the temporary protection order (TPO) granted to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) before the Court of Appeals (CA), said Interior Sec. Benhur Abalos Jr. on Wednesday.

Initially, the DILG was only supposed to file a motion clarifying the validity of the TPO granted to KJC by the Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 15.

But in an interview with INQUIRER.net, Abalos said the DILG will instead challenge the TPO after a discussion with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) earlier in the same day.

READ: DILG to clarify Quiboloy court protection order; hunt continues

“This morning they (the OSG) already filed a manifestation stating that, in effect, the order (TPO) is ultra vires,” Abalos said.

“We’re challenging it. And they’re going to file a [petition for] certiorari, tomorrow with the Court of Appeals,” he added.

Abalos said the decision to challenge the TPO was made citing a Supreme Court (SC) order dated May 28, which ordered the transfer of the venue of Quiboloy’s criminal cases from Davao to Quezon City.

Under the order, the Court directed judges in Davao City and in other stations in Mindanao where future related cases involving Quiboloy and his co-accused may be filed “to motu proprio order the transmittal of the records to the Office of the Clerk of Court of the RTC, Quezon City and Metropolitan Trial Court, Quezon City, as the case may be.”

“Meaning if we’re going to look at this, all future cases [related to Quiboloy] from May 28 automatically should be transferred to Quezon City,” explained Abalos.

Quiboloy is facing child abuse cases before a Davao City court, as well as a standing arrest warrant for human trafficking issued by a Pasig City court.

Refusing to answer the cases, Quiboloy remains in hiding, with the Davao Police Regional Office saying he is believed to be hiding inside the KJC compound in Davao City.