THE REGIONAL Trial Court Branch 15 issued a temporary protection order for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to halt their operations and remove all barriers and blockades from the KOJC property effective Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.
Judge Mario Duaves signed the three-page order on the same day.
In a verified petition filed on July 1, 2024, by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above All Names, Inc. (KOJC) and Jose Maria College Foundation, Inc. (JMCFI) against Benjamin Abalos Jr., Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police, and others, the petitioners alleged that their right to life, liberty, and security were violated or threatened by the unlawful acts or omissions of the respondents.
Consequently, the petitioners sought the issuance of a Writ of Amparo, among other reliefs.
In Resolution 28-2024 dated July 1, 2024, RTC Executive Judge Retrina E. Fuentes found no urgent necessity for the issuance of the writ and ordered the immediate raffling of the case to the regular court.
Accordingly, the petition was raffled to this court on July 3, 2024, and an order was issued on July 8, 2024, directing the respondents to file their comments within 15 days of receipt.
At around 5 a.m. on August 24, 2024, the PNP XI, armed with arrest warrants, entered the compound of KOJC and JMCFI located along Phil-Japan Friendship Highway, Sasa, Davao City, in search of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and other individuals. Since then, the situation has remained tense.
The PNP XI has barricaded the ingress, egress, and regress of the compound, imposing restrictions that hinder the religious and academic activities of the petitioners’ officers, members, missionaries, and students, among others.
The court is aware of the recent incidents affecting the right to life, liberty, and safety of the petitioners, their officers, and members. The restrictions and control imposed by PNP XI within and around the KOJC and JMCFI compound have notably infringed upon not only the property rights of the petitioners, their officers, and members but also their exercise of religious and academic freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
Therefore, under the current circumstances, the court deems it urgent to direct PNP XI to immediately cease and desist from any act or omission that threatens the life, liberty, or security of the petitioners and their properties.
PNP XI is hereby ordered to remove all forms of barricades, barriers, or blockades that obstruct access to and from the compound and hinder the petitioners’ religious, academic, and proprietary rights, as well as their pursuit thereof by their officers and members within and surrounding the premises.
The Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court XI, is directed to immediately serve this order to any senior PNP commanding officers present within the KOJC and JMCFI compound and at their regional office.
Meanwhile, the KOJC members celebrate the removal of police barricades in front of the KOJC Kingdome after Atty. Torreon explained the content of the Temporary Protection Order released on Tuesday afternoon.
Also, the KOJC Kingdome gates are now open to access for members.
Photo: Bing Gonzales
