THE legal counsel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) chided DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos after the latter accused KOJC of disregarding and disrespecting the government’s system upon serving warrants of arrest against Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and others.
KOJC Legal Counsel, along with church officials, stood their ground against the DILG secretary’s insinuations.
They argued that Abalos’ words were inappropriate for a religious group, emphasizing that the government itself fails to uphold the law.
Who truly violated the law? Was it not illegal when combined forces of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and Special Action Force (SAF) forcibly raided KOJC’s religious compounds in Davao City and Sarangani Province in early June?
Did they not forcefully enter, damaging the gate of Glory Mountain?
Did they not harm the church missionaries who were merely requesting to wait for KOJC’s lawyers before entering?
Who, then, has violated the law?
“The law is the law, it’s correct to follow it, but it seems in this case you’re not talking about us in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Secretary, because you haven’t followed any laws. Regarding what happened on June 10 at KOJC, there was no law. Yes, the law is the law. You should be the first to follow the law. That’s your law. Yes, that’s right, the law is the law. That’s right. So now you are being pursued by the law. And yet you claim that we trampled, we disregarded… Who did the soldiers’ boots step on? Wasn’t it the KOJC missionaries, mostly women? That’s who was trampled on. What are you saying about studying, and planning? That’s what you planned to do on June 10. So, keep talking, you’re falling into your own graves. Honestly, I’m not saying this just to say it. This is the truth. The whole world saw what happened,” said Sis. Nori Cardona, Executive Secretary, KOJC.
“This government has become lawless. That will be KOJC’s statement. Everything Sec. Abalos said would come back to him. Follow the law, Sec. Abalos, and all those with you. That’s what should be done. And the ones who were trampled on, and disregarded, that was us. Not you. Don’t play the victim because the whole world knows what happened. Let’s all be truthful. As our Heavenly Father said, His words are that nothing is hidden from God. You can try to hide, we can try to pretend, but the Father knows the evil that we are doing,” added Cardona.
According to KOJC, the government should chase corrupt officials, drug lords, smugglers, and criminals and not Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is just a victim of false accusations.
“Who should be held accountable? Once again, we ask you: What is KOJC’s fault? What is Pastor Quiboloy’s fault? Have they been proven guilty? Those are all false accusations. Yet you treat Pastor as if he were a criminal. Why don’t you chase after those who should be held accountable, who should be apprehended? Focus on the real perpetrators. Put the blame where it belongs—on the thieves in government, the smugglers, the drug addicts, the drug lords. They are the ones who are sinful, not KOJC. You are mistaken. Your accusations don’t hold here. Secretary Abalos, I remind you, the law is the law, indeed. You should be the first to abide by it,” she also added.
According to KOJC Legal Counsel Atty. Israelito Torreon, the government has already violated the law simply by serving the warrant, especially since the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not yet acted on their Motion for Reconsideration regarding the cases filed against Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.
“What is the law? The law is Section 13 of Department of Justice Circular No. 70. What does it require or state? It states that the respondent has the right to file a motion for reconsideration, and Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy availed of this right on March 11, 2024. What are the other rules on the matter? The Supreme Court Administrative Circular mandates that all judges, including prosecutors, must promptly act on all motions and interlocutory orders pending before their courts. What appears to me, that your government specifically the DOJ failed to rule the motion for reconsideration which under Supreme Court Administrative Circular 188 needs to be resolved, instead of acting on it,” said Israelito Torreon, Legal Counsel, KOJC.
They also claim that the use of force by authorities in serving the warrant and the conduct of trial by publicity against Pastor Quiboloy in congressional hearings are violations of the law.
“It seems to be ironic that the person who is challenging or telling us this, the one who violates the very gov’t process that we have set by law particularly just to add the legal citations made by Dean Torreon,” said Atty. Adam Jambangan, Legal Counsel, KOJC.
“The primary duty of the government and state officials is to serve the people. It is your duty to protect our life, liberty. Remember, going back to the ‘day of infamy’, two indigenous people died. The indigenous were handcuffed, nor suffered hallucinations. That is the trauma that you caused,” said Atty. Kaye Laurente, Legal Counsel, KOJC.
They also said Abalos is correct that those who should be held accountable must face charges, and that is why the legal counsel is already preparing cases against those who violated the law and the human rights of KOJC missionaries.
“That’s why we are preparing all these cases. Building up cases against you because we know for the fact that law is law and no one above is the law. Even you, can be liable for this,” said Atty. Jambangan.
