Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said the DOJ will be filing a case against a Davao City regional trial court (RTC) judge, who issued a temporary protection order (TPO) that stopped the Philippine National Police (PNP) from exercising any act that would threaten the life, liberty or security of the officials and members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
Remulla, in an interview over DZRH news on Saturday, Aug. 31, explained that the DOJ had earlier petitioned the Supreme Court (SC) to order the transfer of the Davao City case against Quiboloy and his co-accused to the RTC in Metro Manila. The High Court granted this petition.
With the transfer of the case, Remulla said the Davao City RTC had already lost its jurisdiction over the case and, thus, the TPO he issued was questionable.
The TPO was issued by Davao City RTC Judge Mario C. Duaves.
While Remulla did not specify the charges that are going to be filed against Duaves, legal quarters said the case would possibly be an administrative complaint for abuse of authority and ignorance of the law.
The TPO was pleaded by KOJC members after more than 2,000 PNP men stormed the KOJC compound to serve the arrest orders issued by the courts against the religious founder Apollo C. Quiboloy.
The PNP immediately complied with the TPO but did not stop its search for Quiboloy in the KOJC compound.
Quibuloy was charged with violation of Republic Act No. 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, before the Davao City RTC which issued an arrest order.
He was also charged and ordered arrested by the Pasig City RTC on a case involving non-bailable qualified human trafficking.
Since the issuance of the arrest order, Quiboloy has remained at large, and is believed to be hiding in the KOJC compound in Davao City.
In issuing the TPO in favor of Quiboloy, Duaves directed the PNP to remove all forms of barricades, barriers, or blockades that bar the access to and from the subject compound and hinder the exercise of religious, academic, and proprietary rights of officials and members.
While several quarters said the TPO effectively stopped the service of the arrest orders, the SC has clarified that the order did not deter law enforcers from serving the warrants of arrest.
Earlier, Justice Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez said no one in the government can guarantee that Quiboloy will not be turned over to the United States (US) government under the extradition treaty between the Philippines and the US.
In an interview over GMA News, Vasquez said: “That is a legal issue that needs to be carefully studied.”
Vasquez was asked to comment on the remark of KOJC lawyer and spokesperson Israelito Torreon that Quiboloy will face the charges in Philippine courts if President Marcos “will issue a written declaration that he (Quiboloy) will not be extraordinarily rendered to the United States of America.”
Quiboloy has been ordered arrested by Central District of California Judge Terry Hatter Jr. on charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and cash smuggling.
Vasquez said that “no one in government can give that guarantee strictly speaking.”
He explained that the Philippines is bound by an extradition treaty with the US and “it is the obligation of the state regardless of whoever is in the leadership position.”
He clarified that he is not preempting decision his higher-ups would make as far as Quiboloy’s condition is concerned.
“Hindi ko papangunahan kung anuman ang magiging desisyon ng nakakataas sa akin kasi, lalo na, (I will not preempt whatever would be the decision on the request especially) that is major policy decision,” he explained.