Kimberly Capuyan

Supreme Court (SC) Spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting admitted on August 17 the issuance of a Temporary Protection Order (TPO) for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) but clarified that this “does not deter” the arrest warrant against fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy.

Photo Courtesy of YouTube/The Supreme Court of the Philippines/Philippine STAR.

“The PNP was ordered to remove all forms of barricades, barriers, and blockades that bar access to and from the [KOJC] and JMCFI compound and hinder petitioners’ religious, academic, and proprietary rights,” Ting said.

“This does not deter the service of the warrant,” she added.

Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 15 issued the TPO after 2,000 personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) raided the 30-hectare KOJC compound to serve arrest warrants on Quiboloy and five others last August 24.

Judge Mario Duaves issued the order after KOJC lawyer Israelito Torreon filed a petition for the writ of amparo against Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. and the police force.

Torreon filed the petition on behalf of the KOJC and the Jose Maria College Foundation (JMC).

Under the order, the police were instructed to “immediately cease and desist from any act or omission that threatens the life, liberty, or security as well as the properties of the petitioners.”

"The PNP XI is hereby ordered to remove all forms of barricades, barriers or blockades that bar the access to and from the subject compound and hinder petitioners’ religious, academic, and proprietary rights and the pursuit thereof by its officers and members within and surrounding the premises," the order read.

According to the Davao court, the restraints have “noticeably trampled” the rights of the KOJC members, which are guaranteed by the constitution.

The ruling mandates the PNP to ensure that the religious group’s members have open access to their compound.

Abalos pointed out that the TPO “did not specifically say that the police must stop the operation,” but they will file a petition to clarify the order.

Abalos also told radio station DXBB that police operations inside the KOJC compound would continue, but would follow the court order to remove barricades, barriers, or blockades.

However, he added that the authorities would clarify the order of the Davao court on August 28.

The Davao police earlier said that Quiboloy was still inside the compound after detecting multiple heartbeats from a supposed bunker underneath it.

Quiboloy and five others are facing child and sexual abuse charges before the Davao City court.

He also has a standing arrest warrant for qualified trafficking in persons issued by a Pasig City court.