THE Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) has released evidence that contradicts the statements of the PNP, which claimed that their aggressive raid on the KOJC compounds was legal and conducted with ‘maximum tolerance.’
During a press conference on Wednesday, Police Major Catherine Dela Rey, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office-Davao Region, said that their raid was in response to an alleged attack by KOJC missionaries using a water cannon while the police were serving the arrest warrant.
However, the CCTV footage tells a different story.
In the footage, in the early hours of Monday, June 10, at 3:55 in the morning, the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) was seen preparing to attack the central headquarters compound of KOJC in Davao City.
They appeared ready for war, dressed in their full-battle gear.
The KOJC security guards requested a search warrant from the PNP.
When the officials could not present a search warrant, the guards told them to wait for the Kingdom’s lawyers.
However, in a short while, there seemed to be a commotion at the gate.
The PNP ignored the request of the KOJC guards and started erecting stairs to enter the compound.
Nine SAF officers immediately climbed the stairs to enter the compound. But they were immediately confronted by KOJC missionaries rushing from their morning prayers.
As more soldiers entered, the missionaries formed a human barricade to prevent illegal entry.
The gate was forcefully pushed, but they were not deterred.
This man in black is one of the KOJC missionaries who can be seen seemingly causing a commotion and pleading in front of the authorities.
Shortly after, he was surrounded by authorities until he was forced to leave.
Tension continued as more SAF officers entered, resulting in injuries to some missionaries, including women.
According to Atty. Kaye Laurente, KOJC’s lawyer, due to the aggressive attack, KOJC missionaries used water to defend themselves.
It is also not true, she said, that the authorities exercised maximum tolerance because many missionaries were injured, including a woman who was injured in the face by a military boot, and two male missionaries were also hurt.
“It is not true that they entered because we used a water cannon. We used water to stop them from illegally entering our compound. It is also not true that they used ‘maximum tolerance’ because many [missionaries] were injured. They are changing the story of what actually happened,” stated Atty. Kaye Laurente, Legal Counsel, KOJC
Atty. Laurente also challenged the statement of Major Dela Rey that the PNP did nothing but break the gate at the Glory Mountain property of KOJC in Tamayong, Mt. Apo, because the missionaries did not let the soldiers in.
According to Laurente, the police did not have a search warrant and were told they could enter once they had one. But the soldiers refused and aggressively broke the gate.
As the PNP elite force entered, they forced the group of indigenous missionaries and farmers gathered at the gate to leave, resulting in injuries to some.
Authorities are also lying, according to Sonia Advincula, a full-time KOJC missionary, who said that the PNP rescued minors, when in fact, six missionaries were injured, including minors with their parents.
“They are lying when they said in the press conference that the PNP rescued minors. They are the children of Indigenous missionaries” said Sonia Advincula, Full-time Missionary, KOJC
The PNP announced that they are preparing to file charges against the six missionaries for ‘obstruction of justice.’
But according to Atty. Laurente, the PNP arrested indigenous missionaries who were only protecting their homes and church. Among those arrested were minors.
Atty. Laurente clarified that when KOJC lawyers arrived at the compound in Davao City, they immediately assisted with the arrest warrant and accompanied the officials, showing no intention of obstructing justice.
“The KOJC lawyers voluntarily supervised them, showing submission to the process. What the KOJC workers asked was to wait for the lawyers before implementing the warrant,” Laurente added.
