INQUIRER FILES
DAVAO CITY — The Police Regional Office 11 (PRO-11), which covers the Davao region and oversees the operation to arrest fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy and four members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), welcomed the Court of Appeals ruling invalidating the Temporary Protection Order (TPO) issued by a local court in this city.
The ruling, promulgated on Sept. 4, said Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 15 Presiding Judge Mario Duaves had no authority to issue the TPO, since the case against Quiboloy was already moved to a Quezon City court in May, as ordered by the Supreme Court.
In the TPO, Duaves told the police to remove barricades, blockades, and barriers it installed in the KOJC compound that supposedly prevented its members from going in and out of the sect’s central headquarters.
“It is with great confidence that this will vindicate the police organization of any malicious and false claims that hounded the (arrest) operation,” Major Catherine Dela Rey, PRO-11 spokesperson, said in a statement.
“More than anything else, this decision is clear proof that our actions are just and lawful. We remain fair in every dealing, whether a member of KOJC or not,” she added.
“May this serve as a reminder to always be on the side of justice and truth,” Dela Rey further said.
The appeals court issued the Sept. 4 resolution after a petition for certiorari, prohibition, and mandamus was filed by Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and top officials of the Philippine National Police, through the Office of the Solicitor General.
The court said the writ of amparo was closely intertwined with the case pending against Quiboloy, considering that “what is at stake is the implementation of the warrants of arrest against him” and four of his co-accused.
“Hence, such a case is within the coverage of the … Supreme Court resolution,” it added.
On May 27, the high tribunal ordered the transfer of the sexual abuse and child abuse case against Quiboloy in Davao City to a Quezon City court, citing his position of power in the area that could cause “local biases” and the “strong possibility that witnesses cannot freely testify because of fear” and his influence.