By Councilor Pilar Braga
I would like to express my deep concern over the ongoing police operations at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), which has dragged on for too long without any clear end in sight.
I understand that the police operation is related to the implementation of a court-issued search warrant which is also in connection with the arrest warrant for the KOJC founder, Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.
What I do not understand is why we need that many police personnel and expend so much time, energy, and resources to search and arrest one pastor and a few of KOJC members.
This is a very unusual police operation in the history of searches and arrests in this country. If this were made in a camp of a high-value terrorist like Marwan, another tragedy on a scale of what happened to SAF-44 in Mamasapano would likely happen.
But this police operation is in a place of worship that many peace-loving Davaoeños consider to be a sanctuary, a safe space. Surely, our police authorities can show more respect and care in the conduct of such operation?
Davaoeños cannot help but think that there is more to this than a regular police search and arrest. Because we have not seen this much zeal, determination, and dedication from our police in searching for and arresting other suspected criminals. Are we exerting this much effort and resources looking for others with similar court-issued warrants?
This police operation has become more than a mere distraction. It is a major disruption in our community that impacts more Davaoeños than just members of KOJC. It has disrupted our flow of traffic, the education of students of Jose Maria College (JMC), the daily lives of those who live within the KOJC compound and the surrounding areas. It has caused anxiety and stress not only to those directly involved and their families and friends, it has also unfairly created a negative perception of Davao City as a city in chaos and instability.
This cannot go on and on. At some point, we must decide when we have reasonably and humanly exhausted all means needed to search for what we are looking for.
I express my solidarity with the KOJC community as I pray for them and with them for the immediate resolution of this crisis, all in accordance to God’s will.
PILAR C. BRAGA
City Councilor
