CHR urged: Promptly check possible rights violations in KJC raid

MANILA, Philippines — Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta has urged the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to look into possible civil and religious rights violations in the police’s raid of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) compound in Davao City.

At the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations’ hearing on Monday regarding the commission’s proposed budget for 2025, Marcoleta asked CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc if they have done anything to check on the alleged rights violations after the Philippine National Police (PNP) enforced an arrest order against KJC founder Apollo Quiboloy.

Marcoleta stressed there is a need for CHR’s quick action since the PNP operations have hampered religious activities in the KJC headquarters.

“I would surmise that worship services were interrupted; some activities connected with religious belief might have been interrupted.  These are serious violations of their political and civil rights.  Maybe like marriages are being celebrated in that compound, baptism, probably, anything you might think, activities that are related to their faith.  And today, that is still existing, I think they are still prevented from doing that,” Marcoleta said.

In response, Palpal-latoc said they have sent out investigators on the grounds.

“The field of our regional office is still conducting its investigation, and we expect the regional office to submit its recommendation the soonest, your Honor.  And, yes, I agree with you that there are several rights that may be involved here, one of which is, as you mentioned, the religious freedom of the KJC members, and there may be other civil liberties that may be affected, your Honor,” Palpal-latoc said.

“Earlier, Madam Chair, we noted that the CHR acceded to one of our interpolators’ proposition that preventive is the better side of the CHR’s function […]  And before everything else happened, like what you said, that there might have been several acts already done in violation of their civil and political rights, did you not bother to at least post some of your members or anybody there, even before the events unfolded so that we could have prevented most of it, if not all?” Marcoleta asked.

“We had, your Honor. In fact, we assigned at least three investigators in the area, your Honor, as early as September 1,” the CHR head replied.

Marcoleta however was not satisfied, asking Palpal-latoc again if they had done anything to prevent the alleged rights violations.

“Investigating and monitoring, Mr. Chair, is not good enough.  Considering the unfolding of events in several days and continuing up to today, I think CHR should do something.  Because we need to protect them.  Protecting their human rights is the center of the function of the CHR.  Am I correct?” Marcoleta said.

“Yes, your Honor.  But before the commission acts on the situation and to perform whatever is necessary, we have to conclude our investigation.  So we have to determine based on our own [findings],” Palpal-latoc added.

Last August 24, around 2,000 PNP officers raided the KJC compound due to the belief that Quiboloy, who is facing charges of child abuse and trafficking, is holing up in the area.  The operation, however, led church members to stage protests in the vicinity of Buhangin District.

No less than Vice President Sara Duterte condemned the PNP’s actions while apologizing to KJC members for asking them to vote for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the 2022 polls.

On Monday, the CHR came out with a statement saying that they have been monitoring the situation at the KJC compound daily, through its regional office in Region XI.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., last August 27, meanwhile maintained that there were no human rights violations during the police raid at the KJC compound, adding that such claims are “political” and “untrue.”

READ: Marcos: No human rights violations in KJC compound raid

Marcoleta and CHR’s exchanges during budget deliberations go way back, even before the term of Palpal-latoc.  In 2017, Marcoleta infamously moved to give CHR a P1,000 budget — a motion that was approved with 119 lawmakers voting in the affirmative, and only 32 in the negative.

The P1,000 budget was given to CHR in the middle of its criticism of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.