MANILA, Philippines – The Integrated Bar of the Philippine Davao City Chapter on Sunday called for rule of law and sobriety for both the authorities implementing an arrest warrant as well as the subjects of the warrant following the tension between the police and members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in the attempt to arrest fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy early Sunday morning.
“To be clear, law enforcers such as the Philippine National Police (PNP) have the authority and duty to obey the oders of our courts. This includes the implementation of warrants issued by the court for the arrest of persons who are under a criminal indictment in court,” the IBP said in a statement released Sunday.
“There are, however, limits imposed by law on what can, and should be done, in the exercise of this duty and authority,” IBP said.
Over 2000 police officers participated in the large-scale manhunt operations done in the kojc compound in Davao City in search of Quiboloy and his co-accused over human trafficking and child molestation cases.
Police officers first raided the 30-hectare compound and found no traces of Quiboloy and his cohorts in the area.
The PNP however believes that the targets are holed up inside based on intelligence reports and a radar detection machine.
“If the police have a good basis that a person to be arrested is inside a certain place, they have the right to enter the place and even to break into such place if refused admittance after announcing their authority and intention,” IBP said.
“However, after conducting a search for the person, or persons within a reasonable period of time, the police do not have the authority to occupy the premises or exclude any lawful occupant thereof from free entry and egress therefrom,” IBP said.
Police B.Gen. Nicolas Torre III, police director for the Davao Region said they will not stop until they find Quiboloy. Troops started entering the KOJC compound at 5 am on Saturday and did not remove his men until Sunday with the possibility in mind that Quiboloy will escape once the ground is clear.
Officers obviously tired and sleepy, Torre ordered for shifting and ordered operations to resume on Sunday.
“Likewise, the use of violent force is allowed only when the police officers, are, themselves, exposed to the danger of bodily harm in the exercise of hteir functions. In any case, the degree of force must always be proportionate to the amound of danger,” the IBP said.
KOJC members cried abuses committed by the police during the raid. Reports of members having been injured surfaced with one confirmed death due to heart attack.
“On the other hand, occupants of such a place are also duty bound by law to allow the authorities to exercise their authority. Attempts to stop, or hinder, the lawful exercise by the police of their mandate to implement a warrant of arrest may result inc riminal liability for obstruction of justice or worse if any act of violence is committed,” IBP said.
The IBP also clarified that the subjects of any warrant are also duty bound to obey orders of the court and “should surrender peacefully.”
The 73-year old Quiboloy has not been seen in public since January this year when he evaded a Senate inquiry on his trafficking and abuse cases.
Vice President Sara Duterte and former President Rodrigo Duterte had both issued statements condemning the use of large force on the fugitive pastor’s arrest.
Lawmakers such as Sen. Chiz Esccudero had slammed the PNP for their failure to arrest government targets such as Quiboloy.
