MANILA, Philippines – Over a dozen cops have been relieved by the Philippine National Police for failure to arrest fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy and his five co-accused in connection with their child trafficking and qualified trafficking charges, PNP Chief Police General Rommel Marbil said Monday.
“As a result of the investigation, we have administratively relieved 15 PNP personnel including 3 police commissioned officers and 12 police non-commissioned officers. Let me clarify these officers were relieved not for their abuses but for their failure to arrest the fugitives of the law Quiboloy and his co-accused,” Marbil said in the Senate Committee hearing on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.
Marbil said he called on for an impartial investigation regarding the June 10 raid conducted by operatives of the Special Action Force (SAF) and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) into the properties of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader in Davao City, Samal Island and Sarangani.
No less than former President Rodrigo Duterte himself condemned the “use of excessive and unnecessary force” during the raid on Quiboloy’s properties.
Marbil however clarified that the mission was carried out with “strict adherence to the PNP operational procedures.”
Marbil also noted that the PNP has deployed an “appropriate number of personnel” and “utilized extensive resources” in the conduct of the operation.
However, members of KOJC chose to use women and children as human shields, which resulted in the obstruction and delay in the lawful actions of the police, said Marbil.
Meanwhile, male members of the group were armed with bolos and other bladed weapons who even engaged in violent engagement with the operatives.
At least six people and two minors apprehended by the police were immediately released the same day but are facing obstruction of justice charges according to Marbil.by authorities.
