News Roundup 24 August 2024
Aug 24, 2024 • 5 min Read
2,000 cops surround KOJC complex, arrest warrant vs. Quiboloy served anew | INQUIRER.NET – DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Around 2,000 members of the Philippine National Police raided the compound of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) in Buhangin District, Davao City.
This operation is part of another attempt by the police to serve the arrest warrant against televangelist Apollo Quiboloy and other sect members.
The accused are facing charges of child abuse and human trafficking, among others.
“Kaninang madaling araw po ay nag-implement ang kapulisan sa Police Regional Office 11 sa warrant of arrest against Quiboloy,” Major Catherine Dela Rey, chief of the Davao Police Regional Office 11 Public Information Office, told INQUIRER.net over the phone.
(Early this morning, the police at Police Regional Office 11 implemented a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy.)
Dela Rey said they received information indicating that Quiboloy was in the compound, prompting the search operation.
“Sa ngayon po ay ongoing pa rin po ‘yung ginagawa nating search sa whole compound kasi malapad ‘yung area,” she explained.
(At present, our search of the entire compound is still ongoing because the area is extensive.)
The search is still ongoing as of 11:30 a.m.
Full Story at: 2,000 cops surround KOJC home, Quiboloy’s arrest warrant served (inquirer.net)
PNP: KJC member died from fatigue, not as result of raid vs. Quiboloy | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — A member of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) religious sect died during the same time about two thousand members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were conducting an operation meant to serve the warrant of arrest to sect leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
The operation was held inside the church’s compound in Buhangin District, Davao City.
Major Catherine Dela Rey, chief of the Police Regional Office 11 Public Information Office, confirmed the fatality.
“May namatay pong isa. Hindi po totoo na pito. Na-declare po siya na dead on arrival sa Southern Medical Philippines Hospital dito sa Davao due to cardiac arrest,” she told INQUIRER.net over the phone.
(One person died. It is not true that it was seven. He was declared dead on arrival at Southern Medical Philippines Hospital here in Davao due to cardiac arrest.)
The deceased was a male, over 50 years old.
“Based sa investigation namin, ilang araw na pong pagod at puyat ‘yung patient dahil sa pagbabantay doon sa tower nila,” she explained.
(Based on our investigation, the patient had been exhausted and sleep-deprived for several days after guarding their tower.)
Dela Rey said that KOJC members initially refused police assistance for their ailing member.
“More than 15 minutes po bago sila tumawag ng ambulance. Nung palapit na rin ‘yung medical staff ng police, ayaw pa nga po nilang pahawakan ‘yung patient dahil hindi raw po nila alam kung anong gagawin kasi may sarili silang doktor sa loob,” she said.
(They waited more than 15 minutes before calling an ambulance. Even when the police medical staff arrived, they were reluctant to let them attend to the patient, claiming that they didn’t know what to do because they had their own doctor inside.)
Full Story at: PNP: KOJC member died from exhaustion, not as result of raid (inquirer.net)
House panel to review intel fund use following Guo’s escape, other high-profile cases | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The House Appropriations Committee is set to launch a review of intelligence fund allocations in light of recent high-profile cases, including the escape of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.
The review will also include ongoing investigations involving accused sex offender and human trafficker Apollo Quiboloy and former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag.
Appropriations Committee Chair and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co expressed concern over the management of the funds.
“Congress takes the allocation and use of intelligence funds very seriously. The escape of former Mayor Alice Guo despite an immigration lookout bulletin is an incident of great concern,” Co said in a statement released on Saturday.
“Isama na din natin ang kaso nina Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy at dating BuCor Chief Gerald Bantag, na hanggang ngayon’y ‘di pa rin nahuhuli,” he added.
(We will also include the cases of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and Gerald Bantag, who remain at large.)
The solon emphasized the need to examine how the intelligence funds are being used to prevent similar failures in the future.
“Hindi natin hahayaang masayang ang pera ng bayan. The goal is to make sure every peso serves its purpose. Congress will not take this matter lightly,” Co said.
(We will not allow public money to be wasted. The goal is to make sure every peso serves its purpose. Congress will not take this matter lightly.)
Full Story at: House panel to review intel fund use following Guo’s escape, other high-profile cases | Philstar.com
Philippines says China shot flares at its South China Sea plane | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government accused China on Saturday of firing flares at one of its aircraft as it flew patrols over the South China Sea this month.
Beijing claims most of the strategic waterway and has been involved in tense maritime confrontations with Manila in recent months, sparking fears of armed conflict that could draw in the United States, a Filipino military ally.
A Chinese fighter jet “engaged in irresponsible and dangerous maneuvers” on August 19 as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane made a “maritime domain awareness flight” near Scarborough Shoal, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said.
The unprovoked Chinese “harassment” included “deploying flares multiple times at a dangerously close distance of approximately 15 meters from the BFAR Grand Caravan aircraft”, the task force added in a statement.
Flares were also launched near the same plane from the China-held Subi Reef on August 22 as the patrol craft was “monitoring and intercepting poachers encroaching upon the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone and the territorial seas” of the Philippines, it added.
Full Story at: Philippines says China shot flares at its South China Sea plane | Philstar.com
