CA: Protection order for KOJC 'null and void'

The temporary protection order (TPO) granted by a Davao City court to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) has been nullified by the Court of Appeals.

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The CA’s 22nd Division based in Cagayan de Oro City, in a fivepage resolution dated Sept. 3, declared null and void the TPO issued by the Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 15 last Aug. 27.

The appellate court finds that the Davao RTC “has acted without authority in taking cognizance of the amparo case. It follows that the issuance of the TPO has no basis.”

The Davao court issued the TPO after at least 2,000 police officers raided the KOJC compound to serve warrants of arrest against its lead evangelist Apollo Quiboloy and his four co-accused.

The CA noted that the handling of Quiboloy’s case by a Davao court “could cause local biases and a strong possibility that witnesses cannot freely testify due to fear and influence of the accused.”