No rights violations committed in KOJC raid-BBM

No human rights violations were committed during the police operations at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City, President Marcos said yesterday, as he accused critics of politicizing the enforcement of the arrest warrant against KOJC leader Apollo Quiboloy.

- ALEXIS ROMERO

Followers of Quiboloy, who has been charged with child and sexual abuse and qualified human trafficking, have slammed what they described as the excessive use of force in the implementation of the arrest warrant against their leader and has accused law enforcers of violating their rights.

According to the local police, which deployed about 2,000 personnel to enforce the arrest warrant, Quiboloy is likely hiding in an underground bunker up to 30 meters deep within the compound.

Speaking to reporters in Malacañang, Marcos disputed claims that the law enforcement operation at the KOJC compound was an overkill and had violated the rights of the group's members.

"I don't think so... The reason we did this was so that we could maintain the peace. The only way to maintain the peace is to make sure that the area is safe and is secure. And considering this is a 30-hectare compound, you really need a lot of personnel. You cannot do it with just a dozen police personnel," the President said.