THE Philippine National Police is preparing cases of obstruction of justice and inciting to sedition against at least 10 supporters of pastor Apollo Quiboloy for coddling the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader prior to his surrender to authorities last September 8.
Davao police regional police office director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III declined to name the individuals pending the filing of the charges.
He said “there are (actually) many of them, more than 10” when asked during a radio interview about the individuals who will be charged by the PNP for helping the religious leader and his co-accused to hide and evade authorities.
Torre said the charges were discussed by his subordinates during a meeting last Monday, which he was unable to attend because he attended a congressional hearing on the proposed 2025 budget of the PNP.
“We will file the case against these personalities we have already identified. This includes inciting to sedition, which they committed during a rally on the second day (of police operation at the KOJC compound), and also, conspiracy to commit inciting to sedition,” he said.
“When I return (to Davao) tomorrow or the next day, we are going to finalize it,” he added.
Thousands of policemen swooped down at the 30-hectare KOJC compound in Davao City last August 24 to serve arrest warrants against Quiboloy and his four co-accused in child abuse and human trafficking charges. Authorities said the pastor and his companions were given a 24-hour ultimatum to surrender, otherwise policemen will assault the building where he was hiding.
Quiboloy and the others surrendered last September 8.
Pressed if government officials are among those who are due to be charged, Torre just said: “Can we say it once it (cases) is filed. We don’t want to preempt it. We’re finalizing it through our case conference.”
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said a team composed of personnel from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Anti-Cybercrime Group personnel will build up the case against those who coddled Quiboloy.
“We have mobilized a dedicated investigation team to pursue those who sheltered Quiboloy and obstructed justice. The PNP is fully committed to bringing these individuals to account and ensuring they face the full force of the law,” said Marbil, adding the team will coordinate with the Davao police regional office in coming up with a “solid case.”
He said efforts against the coddlers of Quiboloy will be done “efficiently and within the bounds of law.”
“This (investigation) will involve meticulous analysis of digital evidence, testimonials, and documents. We will leave no stone unturned to bring justice to those who have enabled Quiboloy’s evasion,” he said.
Meanwhile, Philippine Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala yesterday said 540 employees of the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), a KOJC-owned media outfit, are serving as Army reservists.
Dema-ala, however, said they have no information if the reservists are serving as members of the so-called “Angels of Death.”
The PNP has said that the Angels of Death is the private armed group of the KOJC. Its members are said to be used in going after members who violate the group’s code of secrecy.
“The Philippine Army has no information that our reservists in the SMNI are connected to the Angels of Death,” said Dema-ala, adding that the Army will assist the PNP if there is a need to investigate the reservists.
“But as of now we have no information (about their connection with Angels of Death),” he said.
Dema-ala said the 540 SMNI reservists, who underwent basic military training, are organized under the 2nd Reservist Signal Battalion. They are deployed in the National Capital Region, Visayas and Mindanao.
Of the number, about 150 to 200 are based in Davao City, said Dema-ala.
