Two senators have expressed their belief that things are getting out of hand in the implementation of the arrest warrant of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
Senators Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, and Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go who both hail from Davao City, aired their concerns in the manner of serving the warrant of arrest against Quiboloy.
In a privileged speech, Dela Rosa made an appeal to President Marcos amid continuous occupation by the Philippine National Police (PNP) of the premises of the religious group since August 24.
"To President Bongbong Marcos, I am reaching out to you in all humility. I do so not only as a concerned citizen and a resident of Davao City. I speak also as someone who deeply believes in your commitment to this nation," he said.
Dela Rosa raised several issues, such as PNP's refusal to leave after they detected a heartbeat using ground-penetrating radars yet stated that they are in no position to question these technological advancements.
"And yet, while your PNP is focused on the underground heartbeat, which they suspect belongs to the heart of Pastor Quiboloy, I urge you, dear President of this nation, to listen also to a different sort of heartbeat. The heartbeat of thousands of Filipinos. In the midst of this cacophony of sounds, it is our hope that the voices and hearts of these Filipinos will not be drowned out," he added.
He stated that among the voices are the members of the KOJC who are deprived of their religious freedoms, with their right to practice their faith is being challenged, and their pleas for support echoing through the land.
He also said that students from the Jose Maria College Foundation Incorporated and Lyceum of the Philippines in Davao City, as well as their parents, are grappling with the disruption of their education.
"I feel that it is not justifiable, that in the attempt to serve a warrant of arrest, we also end up arresting our young people's dreams. This is highly unwarranted," he said.
He also included the closure of Carlos P. Garcia Highway near the airport which according to him, has caused immense hardship for many Davaoenos as it disrupts their daily lives are disrupted and places their convenience and well-being at stake.
"Pagod na rin ang mga tao. More precisely, pagod na rin ang mga puso ng mga tao (The people are tired. More precisely, the people's hearts are tired). Their weary hearts have resorted to seemingly marching to a different beat, regretting their choice of leadership, losing their hope," he said.
"Yet, I stand here with unwavering faith in you, as the father of our nation. I for one still believe in your capacity to care for every Filipino. After all, regardless of where we find ourselves politically, socially, religiously, or even physically, we all share the same heart and spirit," he added.
He also appealed to the President to continue to listen to the "heartbeat" of the people.
Meanwhile, Go manifested his support for Dela Rosa's speech, particularly in upholding the rule of law and the motto of the PNP, which is to serve and protect.
"I appeal to our government, especially law enforcers, to be prudent in their actions and remain faithful to their mandate to serve and protect," he said.
He added that the occupation of police personnel in the KOJC compound in Davao City and the terror it brings to the community causes concern.
"While it is the duty of the police to serve an arrest warrant, there is no excuse for using force creating fear, compromising the safety of civilians, disrupting the peace in the community, and occupying the place of worship," he said.
Go said that he also sympathizes with some of the police officers present there in KOJC who have no choice but to follow orders.
"To my fellow workers in government, please serve the interests of the Filipino people and protect their rights and welfare of our fellow Filipinos," he added.