Three Malaysians, who claimed to be members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), have been denied entry to the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Sunday, Sept. 1.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco reminded that “foreigners have no business interfering in the country’s internal political affairs, thus aliens who join these protest actions can be expelled for violating our immigration laws and for being undesirable aliens.”
“Our immigration officers discovered their intent to participate in anti-government demonstrations being staged by KOJC members who are protesting the ongoing manhunt for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy,” Tansingco in a statement.
The BI identified the three Malaysian nationals as Jessica Lynn Henry, Mimielianna Annie Anak Leesoi, and Andrijosebaul Anak Garra, all in their mid 20s.
“The Malaysians have been placed in the immigration blacklist and banned from entering the country,” it said.
The BI said the three Malaysians were intercepted last Friday, Aug. 27, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 after arriving from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Citing a report from BI supervisors, the bureau said the foreigners arrived with a group of Filipinos presenting themselves as KOJC members.
It said “the passengers claimed they were going to Davao City at the invitation of the KOJC.”
“They, however, could not show any proof of their financial capacity to support their stay in the country and admitted that they are unemployed,” it also said.
While being interviewed by immigration officers, the bureau said one of the Malaysians “unintentionally showed to the BI supervisors her mobile phone with an Excel screenshot of various anti-government slogans such as ‘BBM Resign,’ ‘Stop KOJC Injustices,’ and ‘AFP/PNP Protect the People’.”
“When asked to explain the screenshot, the passenger said she accidentally downloaded the said slogans from her Facebook/Messenger page,” it added.
For several days, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been attempting to serve the arrest warrants against Quiboloy in the KOJC compound in Davao City.
Quiboloy has been charged and warrants of arrests have been issued against him by the courts for qualified human trafficking and abuse of children.
As of posting, Quiboloy has not been found.