MANILA, Philippines — The deployment of 2,000 police personnel to raid the compound of the religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) is both “unwarranted and unjustified,” according to Senator Imee Marcos as she condemned the “excessive” show of force by authorities while serving the arrest warrants of fugitive Apollo Quiboloy and others.
Quiboloy, the founder of KJC, is wanted for child abuse, sexual abuse, and qualified trafficking cases.
READ: CHR urges KJC members to respect state forces, avoid escalating tensions
“I condemn, in the strongest terms, the excessive show of force by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in its raid on the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City,” Marcos said in a statement issued Saturday night.
“The deployment of 2,000 police personnel to raid the premises of an established religion is both unwarranted and unjustified. The disturbance, fear, and even reported death that such a massive show of force caused to bystanders and to those who were simply exercising their Constitutionally-protected rights is unacceptable,” she added.
The senator likewise urged the PNP to prioritize the safety of civilians and to be “more circumspect in their actions.”
“This is the second incidence of excessive force used by the PNP and must be stopped immediately. Isang malaking dungis ito sa Pulisyang Pilipino,” she said.
(This is a big stain on the national police.)
Apart from Sen. Marcos, former chief executive Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, likewise condemned the latest raid as she apologized to KJC members for asking them to vote for Marcos during the 2022 polls.
READ: VP Duterte condemns latest KJC raid, asks forgiveness for Marcos vote plea
Last April 3, a Davao Regional Trial Court ordered the arrest of Quiboloy and his five subordinates. They are facing charges of violating the Anti-Child Abuse Law, specifically the provision on sexual abuse of minors and maltreatment.
A Pasig City court also issued a warrant for the arrest of the self-proclaimed “appointed son of God” for qualified human trafficking, a non-bailable offense, on April 11. Quiboloy has been evading arrest since while authorities are continuously searching for his whereabouts.
On August 8, Davao police regional office director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III revealed that Quiboloy is only inside the KJC compound.
Authorities first raided the KJC compound last June 10, but members of the religious sect prevented them from entering.