Dela Rosa questions PNP operation vs Quiboloy, appeals to Marcos
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bato dela Rosa took to the Senate plenary his sentiments about the latest arrest attempt against fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, leading him to appeal to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to “listen to the hearts” of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) members and other individuals whose lives were supposedly affected by the operation.
The former head of the Philippine National Police used a word play on “heart” in relation to the PNP’s earlier pronouncement that heartbeats, believed to be from Quiboloy and co-accused, were detected underground the KJC compound.
“In the midst of this cacophony of sounds, it is our hope that the voices and hearts of these Filipinos will not be drowned out,” Dela Rosa directly appealed to Marcos in his privilege speech delivered in a plenary session on Tuesday.
READ: ‘Excessive, unnecessary force’ used in bid to get Quiboloy – Ex-Pres. Duterte
“Among them are the members of the KJC, deprived of their religious freedoms. Their right to practice their faith is being challenged, and their pleas for support are echoing through our land,” he added.
Disruption
The lawmaker said it is also important for Marcos to listen to the hearts of thousands of students from the Jose Maria College Foundation Incorporated and Lyceum of the Philippines in Davao City, as well as their parents, who are “grappling with the disruption of their education.”
“I feel that it is not justifiable, that in the attempt to serve a warrant of arrest, we also end up arresting our young people’s dreams. This is highly unwarranted, Mr. President. Their aspirations hang in the balance, as ongoing sieges affect their learning environment and their future prospects,” he said.
Dela Rosa said people are now tired and losing hope.
“Yet, I stand here with unwavering faith in you, as the father of our nation. I for one still believe in your capacity to care for every Filipino. May President Bongbong Marcos continue to listen to the heartbeat of the people,” he concluded.
Prior airing his appeal to Marcos, Dela Rosa likewise publicized his criticism of the PNP’s operation to arrest Quiboloy.
Among things that he raised was the alleged excessive force used.
“As a former Chief of Philippine National Police, I have not encountered an operation to implement a warrant of arrest wherein we deployed forces close to 2,000 people,” he said.
Dela Rosa proceeded to compare the situation to Zulkifi Abd Hir also known as “Marwan” who is listed among America’s “most wanted terrorists” with a $5 million bounty for his alleged involvement in a series of deadly bomb attacks in the Philippines.
The senator said unlike Quiboloy’s case, only 300 police officers were tasked to serve a warrant against Marwan.
“Kung hindi po sana naging overacting o overkill ang pagsisilbi ng warrant at nanatili lamang within the standard operating procedure, wala sanang gulo (If the serving of the warrant had not been overacting or overkill and only remained within the standard operating procedure, there would not have been any trouble.). The overwhelming number of police camping in front of the gates of KJC with the simple goal of serving a warrant will naturally create fear and tension. It has created an atmosphere of terror—the same feeling of insecurity that our law enforcement agencies vowed to wage war against,” he pointed out.
Dela Rosa likewise lambasted the supposed “camping” of PNP officials within the compound as well as the alleged illegal search that transpired during the operation.
Listen to the hearts of the victims
But in her short manifestation also delivered during Tuesday’s plenary session, Sen. Risa Hontiveros countered Dela Rosa’s pronouncements. The opposition senator said freedom of assembly should not mean obstruction of justice, emphasizing that Quiboloy is a fugitive and he needs to be arrested.
“Kung papakinggan natin ang heartbeat ng KJC members, pakinggan din natin ang heartbeat ng mga victim survivors. Si alias Amanda, alias JR, alias Jackson at iba pa. Trafficked, sexually abused, forced to perform begging activities. Let us not allow them to be invisible (If the serving of the warrant had not been overacting or overkill and only remained within the standard operating procedure, there would not have been any trouble.),” Hontiveros underscored.
She said her position is clear—the PNP did not use excessive force in the operation. Hontiveros then noted that religion and belief is not an excuse to stop the implementation of the country’s laws.
Earlier, PNP regional police chief Brig. General Nicolas Torre III said Quiboloy is still inside the compound, revealing the discovery of a bunker where the alleged rapist and his accomplices could be hiding.
Authorities first raided the area last June 10, but they failed to arrest him at that time as members of the religious sect prevented them from entering the compound.
Quiboloy is facing two separate arrest orders from Davao and Pasig courts.
The Supreme Court, however, granted the Department of Justice’s bid to transfer Quiboloy’s sexual abuse case from a court in Davao to Quezon City to avoid miscarriage of justice.
Apart from these, the Senate panel on women headed by Hontiveros is likewise seeking Quiboloy’s arrest.
