Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) is fine-tuning the charges for inciting to sedition against supporters of jailed Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy.
In a radio interview Tuesday, Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-11) Director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the sedition charges will be filed against those who staged a rally at the start of the police search for Quiboloy inside the KOJC compound in Davao City.
“May mga lista kami nung mga personalities na ‘yan. Kapag sinabi ko mga pangalan actually mga kilala nyo. Mahigit sampu ‘yun (We have a list of those personalities. If I mention the names, actually you know them. We have more than 10),” Torre said.
KOJC members blocked the national highway fronting the 30-hectare compound with vehicles and heavy equipment on the night of Aug. 25 to protest what they claimed are police abuses.
At least six police officers were wounded.
Torre said they aim to file the case within this week as soon as he returns to Davao City.
He is in Metro Manila to attend the hearing of the PNP’s proposed 2025 budget at the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, trainers of Quiboloy’s purported private army, called Angels of Death, include PNP officers, Torre said.
The group also has a formal group name and some members are volunteers.
“Sad to say, nakakahiya man sabihin, pero kasama pa ang PNP sa nagti-train sa kanila. Halimbawa basic life support, mga ganun, kasi they are formed into a legitimate group. May pangalan silang formal (It’s sad to know and it’s a shame but the PNP is among those training them. For example, basic life support, things like that, because it was formed as legitimate group. They have a formal name),” Torre said, adding that Angels of Death was coined by Quiboloy.
The firearms licenses of some members either expired or were not renewed because of alleged involvement in crimes.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army (PA) said it is ready to help the PNP in verifying reports that some reservists and militiamen are members of th
e ‘Angels of Death’.
‘We are closely coordinating with PNP counterparts as they are the ones conducting law enforcement operations with our support. We will provide updates once we get information on this,’ PA public affairs office deputy chief Col. Reynaldo Balido said in an interview.
Balido said they are checking whether Army reservists from KOJC’s media company Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) are members of Quiboloy’s alleged private army.
Hunt vs. Quiboloy accomplices
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil already ordered stringent operations against key figures who allegedly harbored Quiboloy until before his surrender on Sept. 8.
In a statement, Marbil announced the creation of specialized teams dedicated to the operations, emphasizing that such will be executed ‘efficiently and within the bounds of the law.’
He said a composite team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Anti-Cybercrime Group is building a comprehensive case against Quiboloy’s coddlers.
Quiboloy
went into hiding after he was ordered arrested by a Pasig City court in April for the non-bailable offense of qualified human trafficking. He also faces a child sexual abuse case before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
‘The team will coordinate closely with the PRO-11 and conduct a continuous, thorough investigation to ensure a solid case. This will involve meticulous analysis of digital evidence, testimonials and documents. We will leave no stone unturned to bring justice to those who enabled Quiboloy’s evasion,” Marbil said.
Source: Philippines News Agency
