BRIGADIER General Nicolas Torre III, the newly appointed Police Regional Office XI (PRO XI) director, addressed the controversy surrounding the raid on Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s properties.
When asked how he plans to navigate the situation, particularly former President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to file cases against the involved officers, General Torre emphasized his commitment to following legal procedures.
“Nababasa ko sa dyaryo and sa media and social media ang pronouncements ni Former President Duterte let’s just cross the bridge when we get there. Yun lang ang ating gagawin sa ngayon,” he said.
He said they will consult Atty Benjamin Silo Jr. [Area Police Command- Eastern Mindanao chief] For legal advice.
Nonetheless, he said that “any potential cases will be handled through proper legal channels.”
On June 10, a combined force from PRO XI, CIDG, SAF, and personnel from neighboring regions executed an arrest warrant against Pastor Quiboloy and five associates at his compounds in Davao City, Island Garden City of Samal, and Sarangani. The Kingdom of Jesus Christ has publicly criticized the raid as excessive.
Torre did not directly comment on the specifics of the raid but emphasized his commitment to upholding the law and cooperating with legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, regarding the arrest of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his associates, Torre emphasized that he would await specific instructions from national headquarters before taking any action.
“I’ll wait for the specific orders. I’ll wait for the specific instructions but right now as the new director after some administrative movements, administrative decisions from national headquarters so inilagay ako para magkaroon ng regional director,” Torre further said.
In a statement dated June 13, 2024, and posted on the social media platforms of SMNI News at past noon on the same day, Duterte said the alleged “illegal raid” is an “act” that “cannot go unpunished.”
“While I am saddened to do this given my personal, and in the past official, support for the police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, my duties as Administrator of Church Properties demand that I take legal and appropriate action. In line with this, I have ordered not only the preparation of affidavits of all members aggrieved and traumatized by the said unfortunate incident but also an inventory of church properties destroyed as a consequence,” he said.
Duterte was named as KOJC administrator after the arrest warrant was issued against Quiboloy.
Describing it as a “day of infamy”, the ex-leader remarked that the “raiders” allegedly “did not present any search warrant” when they entered KOJC’s “various church compounds in Barangay Buhangin and Tamayong, Davao City; Glory Mountain in QSands Baptismal Resort, Samal Island; ang Kitbog Compound, Malungon Sarangani province” on June 10, 2024.
“This is a clear violation of the law. It was an overkill in any language,” he pointed out.
