Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Friday, September 6 lamented how the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) ongoing attempts to serve the arrest warrant against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy is making Filipinos compare their efficiency with that of the Indonesian National Police.
Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, made the remark during the Senate justice and human rights subcommittee's inquiry on the police operations at the KOJC compound in Davao City.
Until now, the PNP has yet to effect the arrest order against Quiboloy and several other KOJC officials facing human trafficking, rape and sexual abuse charges.
“Sa totoo lang, naaawa ako sa mga PNP personnel na inassign sa KOJC compound. Isipin niyo, halos dalawang linggo na silang nagbarricade. Nakapag-detect na sila ng heartbeat sa ilalim ng lupa (Honestly, I feel sorry for the PNP personnel assigned to the KOJC compound. Think about it, they have been barricaded for almost two weeks. They have detected a heartbeat underground),” Dela Rosa pointed out during the hearing.
“Nag-implementa pa ng ‘hole of government approach’ noong naghukay sila sa basement ng school campus. Ngunit, hindi pa rin naging successful ang implementasyon ng warrant of arrest. Hindi pa rin makita ang dapat makita (They even implemented a 'hole of government approach' when they dug in the basement of the school campus. However, the implementation of the warrant of arrest has not been successful. Still can't find what they need to find),” he said.
“Sa paningin tuloy ng mga tao, mukhang may kakulangan sa ating mga pulis. Lalo pa na laman ng balita ngayon kung paano nahuli kaagad ng Indonesian National Police ang mga taong pinaghahanap ng ating gobyerno (In the eyes of the people, our police officers seem to be wanting. Today's news is even more full of how the Indonesian National Police immediately caught the people wanted by our government),” the senator lamented.
“And I wonder if high confidence can compensate for low returns and low morale. Especially if the latter two come, allegedly, at the expense of our most fundamental human rights,” he pointed out.
Prior to holding the hearing, Dela Rosa, subcommittee chair, conducted an ocular inspection of the KOJC compound Friday morning.
The public hearing was eventually held at the Sangguniang Panglungsod in Davao City, and was attended by Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.
Dela Rosa earlier made a privilege speech where he called for the withdrawal of around 2,000 policemen deployed at the KOJC compound to serve arrest warrants against Quiboloy. Senators Robinhood Padilla and Christopher “Bong” Go joined his call.
During the hearing, Duterte said the PNP’s operation against the KOJC founder and members “has turned into a siege” and has raised concerns about the legitimacy of their operation.
Last Wednesday, the Indonesian National Police were able to apprehend dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo in Jakarta, Indonesia and eventually arrange for her repatriation to the Philippines. Guo, who is facing complaints of human trafficking, money laundering and other criminal cases, has a standing arrest warrant by the Senate.
Prior to this, her sister, Shiela Guo and her business associate, Cassandra Li Ong, were arrested by the Indonesian police in Batam, Indonesia. Indonesian authorities repatriated the two women back to the Philippines last August 22.