THE KINGDOM of Jesus Christ (KOJC) refuted the Philippine National Police (PNP) version of events as the regional office claimed the operations on the religious group’s compounds were “lawful” and exercised with “maximum tolerance.”
The group said CCTV footage contradicted the PNP’s narrative as the clips showed armed forces forcefully entering the compound and injuring missionaries.
“CCTV footage showed that the violent dawn attack by hundreds of heavily armed PNP, CIDG, and SAF forces on the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compounds in Davao City last Monday, June 10, was illegal and carried out with unnecessary and unrestrained force, completely disproving the PNP’s claims,” the group statement said on Wednesday.
The PNP said they had to storm the compound after they were hit by a water cannon.
“However, CCTV footage shows the PNP’s claim is false. The footage showed that the water cannon was used only when the soldiers forced their way into the compound,” the statement added.
According to the statement, the CCTV also showed fully armed PNP and SAF forces already poised to enter the KOJC compound at 3:45 a.m. The SAF soldiers climbed a ladder at the gate and jumped into the premises, ignoring Kingdom security guards who told them to wait for the lawyers since the police could not produce a search warrant.
Reportedly, a number of the missionaries sustained injuries after the violent entry, including a woman who got kicked in her face by a military boot. Two other male missionaries were also hurt on their shoulders and arms.
Atty. Kathleen Kaye Laurente, KOJC counsel, said it is not true that PNP “had no choice but to destroy the gate at the Glory Mountain property of the KOJC in Tamayong, Mt. Apo because the missionaries did not allow them to enter” as they claimed.
“The armed soldiers were told that they would be allowed to enter once they can produce a search warrant. But they refused to listen and instead tore down the gate when they entered,” she said.
She said the police forcefully dispersed a group of indigenous missionaries and farmers injuring at least six of them, including two minors, a female, and three other male workers, who stopped their morning devotional prayers because the soldiers arrived.
Laurente also said the KOJC lawyers even facilitated the entry of the police upon verifying the arrest warrant to prove they did not intend to willfully delay or obstruct the process.
Manhunt continues
Meanwhile, speaking in the press conference at the BRP Gabriela Silang in Camp Panacan, PRO XI spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey said they won’t rest until they bring the pastor to face the charges against him.
“Our search for him continues,” Dela Rey said.
She also urged Quiboloy’s supporters to convince him to surrender.
She denied that the simultaneous operations caused the injuries of some of the group’s members.
Dela Rey also confirmed that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) XI is preparing to file criminal charges for obstruction of justice against six KOJC members.
Photo: Bing Gonzales
