SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (Facebook)

SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta has urged the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to protect members of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) following the alleged human rights violations during the enforcement of the arrest warrant of embattled KOJC church leader, pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

During the CHR’s budget deliberations on Tuesday, Sep. 3, Marcoleta pressed the agency on investigating the alleged violations, particularly that of religious freedom, in the ongoing hunt for Quiboloy in the KOJC compound.

The congressman said that church members were prevented from engaging in religious activities, such as marriage and baptism, due to the police operation.

“Considering that it is a religious sect, and I believe the CHR knows that several thousands of PNP (Philippine National Police) members troop to their compound and stayed there for several days already. Did you happen to investigate whether there are civil rights violated by members of the PNP in encamping in their compound?” he asked.

In response, CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc said its regional office in Davao City had been investigating the incidences concerning members of the KOJC.

“And yes, I agree with you, that there are several rights that may be involved here, one of which the religious freedom of the KOJC members and there may be other civil liberties that may be affected,” added Palpal-latoc.

As of this posting, the PNP is still searching for Quiboloy inside the sprawling 30-hectare KOJC compound.

Followers of the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” and even Vice President Sara Duterte herself has strongly condemned law enforcers for their “excessive use of force”, harassment, among other supposed violations, in the conduct of the search.

None other than President Marcos had earlier asserted that no human rights violations were committed during the continuing endeavor.

Quiboloy is wanted for charges of sexual abuse of a minor, child abuse, and human trafficking.

Preventive measures

Marcoleta noted that prevention is among the “better side” of CHR’s functions.

With this, he asked the agency if it had carried out prior actions to ensure that human rights of KOJC members were protected “before everything else happened”.

“Did you not bother to, at least, focus some of your members, even before the events unfolded so that we could have prevented some of it, if not at all,” said Marcoleta.

“We had, your honor. In fact, we assigned at least three investigators in the area as early as September 1,” answered Palpal-latoc.

The CHR chief bared that the agency gave advice to law enforcers, which was then neglected since the operation against Quiboloy “proceeded”.

“They have no power to prevent, your honor. But they can advise the state actors,” he added.

Currently, the CHR—through its regional office—is only investigating and monitoring the situation.

This response visibly irked Marcoleta as he stressed that these are “not good enough” considering that some rights would still possibly be violated as the search for Quiboloy continues.

“I think the CHR should do something because we need to protect them. Protecting their human rights is the center of the function of the CHR,” the lawmaker said, referring to KOJC members.

“While you are doing investigation, you should have done something to prevent further violations of human rights because baka hindi na rin po matigil ang pag-iimbestiga ninyo (your investigation may not stop). Because while you are investigating, nagagawa pa rin the continuing violations of human rights (the continuing violations of human rights are still being committed,” he continued.

Palpal-latoc, meanwhile, said that the CHR can only perform “whatever is necessary” once the investigation is concluded.

“We directed our regional office to expedite the investigation. In fact, the region already submitted a few recommendations on a few rights involved,” the official shared.

He said the results of the investigation may be divulged to the House Committee on Appropriations after the Sep. 10 meeting of the commission en banc.

Once lawmakers received such findings, Marcoleta said Congress can “probably act and do something about it”.