DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Regional Trial Court-Branch 15 issued a temporary protection order on Tuesday, August 27, directing the Philippine National Police to "immediately cease and desist" from exercising any act that threatens the life, liberty, or security of the officials and members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) here.
The order, penned by Davao City RTC Branch 15 Presiding Judge Mario C. Duaves, mandated the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao 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.
Israelito Torreon, lead counsel of KOJC head Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, posted a copy of the TPO on his Facebook account.
Torreon said that that police have been ordered to vacate the premises of the KOJC compound in Buhangin District.
Sheriff Teresita M. Ceballos accompanied Torreon in serving the TPO on Police Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre II, PRO-Davao chief.
Ceballos said that the TPO would remain effective until notice of hearing is served on the parties
"Salamat po sa inyo puwede na kayong umalis (Thank you but you may now leave)," Torreon told police.
He urged them to immediately remove all barricades or blockades that hinder access to the compound.
The TPO was issued after the KOJC, represented by Executive Pastor Marlon Acobo and Jose Maria College Foundation Inc. (JMCFI), filed a petition for Writ of Amparo on July 1 against Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos and Philippine National Police, claiming that law enforcers violated or threatened with violation their right to life, liberty, and security.
A TPO may be granted by the court as a temporary relief upon filing of the petition or at any time before final judgment on the issuance of Writ of Amparo petition.
"The Court is not unaware of the recent incidents affecting the right to life, liberty, safety of the petitioners, its officers, and members. The restrictions imposed by the PNP-11 over and within the compound of KOJC and JMCI noticeably trampled not only the property rights of the petitioners, its officers and members, but also the exercise of their religious freedom and academic rights, which are guaranteed by the Constitution," it said.
The ruling also requires the PNP to guarantee that KOJC members have full access to the compound.
As of 1:30 p.m., a portion of the Davao City Diversion Road was closed to traffic as anti-riot police officers blocked the entire six lanes of the highway amid ongoing operations.
Thirty minutes later, police opened two lanes of the highway to traffic particularly in front of the compound.
Police are still searching for evangelist Apollo Quiboloy whom the police claimed to be hiding in a bunker inside the compound for four days since the manhunt started.