THE scenarios of oppression and injustice that happened in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) religious compounds in Davao City, involving the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF) andTHE scenarios of oppression and injustice that happened in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) religious compounds in Davao City, involving the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF) and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) were not enough. These heavily armed men also carried out a search and operation in Sitio Kitbog, Malungon, Saranggani Province where one of the KOJC religious compounds is located and most of the surrounding communities belong to the indigenous people. were not enough.
These heavily armed men also carried out a search and operation in Sitio Kitbog, Malungon, Saranggani Province where one of the KOJC religious compounds is located and most of the surrounding communities belong to the indigenous people.
But aside from conducting their operation without a valid search warrant they also conducted a search in the areas outside the KOJC religious compound that caused the residents, to leave their homes during the operation.
According to some of the residents there around 3:30 am on June 10, 2024 before proceeding to the Kingdom’s religious compound, personnel from the PNP SAF and CIDG coming from Malabod arrived in Purok Buyo-Buyo in Sitio Kitbog and Sitio Biangan which are under Barangay Población, Malungon, Sarangani Province, a sitio near the compound went to all the IP residents and even opened the health center.
The residents reported that they were knocked on and forced out of their homes, even children and elderly sick people were forcibly evacuated.
These residents added that the police briefly spoke to them and showed them some photos, but did not present any warrant of arrest or search warrant.
Most of them felt a mix of anxiety and fear, especially the children, due to the presence of the police surrounding their area.
One of the residents said they were awakened by the noise outside their homes and when they checked they were scared because heavily armed men were surrounding them. They woke the children and all those sleeping,
They were shown pictures and asked if they knew the subjects in the photos, they were asked to step out of the house because they would do the search.
They said that it was their first time to see heavy armor causing a traumatic experience not only for adults but for the children.
Adding that even before June 10, they already noticed some individuals riding in motors taking pictures of the community.
Carrying out a search and operation in this manner, without proper legal authorization and extending beyond the specified target area, can be considered an illegal and unjustified intrusion into the privacy and rights of the residents.
Meanwhile, according to KOJC legal counsel Atty. Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes – the unauthorized search of the homes of unsuspecting IPs can be considered illegal, proving that these actions by the authorities are flawed and in violation of protocol.
Sitio kitbog is a remote, mountainous area in Sarangani Province, where almost all of the residents are Indigenous Peoples.
These indigenous residents have vouched that peace was attained in their areas because of Pastor Apollo’s non-stop fight against communism and insurgency.
