FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte called on “remaining decent and patriotic members” of the government not to allow themselves to be used in enforcing “illegal orders.”
The statement was issued about 15 hours after police personnel led by Police Regional Office XI Director Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III, implemented the warrant of arrest on televangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound.
“We call on the remaining decent and patriotic members of our government not to allow themselves to be used and to be abusive and violent in enforcing illegal orders,” he said.
Torre ordered some of the 2,000 police personnel on Saturday to stand guard outside the Kingdome on a 24-hour shifting schedule. The police outside formed three layers to guard the gates while a number went inside to comb the premises.
The former president sympathized with the KOJC members who fell victim to political harassment, persecution, violence, and abuse of authority.
He added this incident paints a “dark stain on the hands” of the involved, referring to Torre.
KOJC lawyer Israelito Torreon told reporters on Saturday that the police failed to show a search warrant, but only a warrant of arrest.
“The warrant of arrest ay hindi nagbigay ng authority to stay indefinitely on the property of the respondent or the accused,” Torreon said.
The lawyer also requested Torre to leave the premises as they were done with their search but Torre claimed they were only able to comb a quarter of the whole area.
Duterte also called on Filipinos to offer prayers of peace and justice to the victims, regardless of political persuasion.
“Spare our people of the unwarranted tension brought about by the reign of fear and terror by people sworn to uphold the law and protect the citizens of this country,” the former president added.
He then questioned the current administration on how will preservation of the constitutional rights of the Filipinos be guaranteed when basic human rights are “blatantly violated.”
Duterte was named as KOJC administrator of church properties after the arrest warrant was issued against Quiboloy in June.
To recall, in his June 13 statement, he said he had ordered the preparation of affidavits of all members aggrieved and traumatized and an inventory of church properties destroyed in the June 10 incident.
Describing it as “overkill” and “day of infamy,” he remarked that personnel failed to present a search warrant before entering KOJC’s compounds in Barangay Buhangin and Tamayong, Davao City; Glory Mountain in QSands Baptismal Resort, Samal Island; ang Kitbog Compound, Malungon Sarangani province.
The police failed to locate the religious leader and other individuals subject to the arrest orders on June 10, which prompted the second implementation on Saturday, Aug. 24.
