The Court of Appeals (CA) in Cagayan de Oro City has declared the temporary protection order (TPO) previously granted to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) as null and void. This announcement was made by Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra on Thursday.
Guevarra stated, “The appellate court declared the TPO issued by [the] RTC Davao City against the PNP/DILG as null and void.” He also mentioned that the CA instructed the lower court to transfer the case records to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, following the Supreme Court’s directive.
In August, the Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 had issued a TPO to halt the Philippine National Police (PNP) from taking any actions that could endanger the safety of KOJC members, as law enforcement attempted to execute arrest warrants against the church’s leader, Apollo Quiboloy.
The decision emerged amidst rising tensions between KOJC and the PNP, particularly surrounding the ongoing attempts to arrest Quiboloy. However, it was later clarified that the TPO did not nullify the existing warrant of arrest against him.
In response to the CA’s ruling, Israelito Torreon, KOJC’s legal counsel, announced plans to file a motion for reconsideration. “We are filing a Motion for Reconsideration today to emphasize that the individual members of KOJC and the officers and students of Jose Maria College (JMC) are not covered by the Supreme Court Order transferring the venue of the cases against Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy,” Torreon said in a Facebook post.
Torreon argued that the CA’s decision contradicts the purpose of a writ of amparo, which is designed to protect individuals whose rights to life, liberty, and security are threatened or violated.
Additionally, members of KOJC have accused the Davao regional police of unauthorized excavations at the JMC building within the KOJC compound, a claim the police have denied.
Quiboloy faces charges under Republic Act 7610, related to the protection of children against abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. He is also charged with a non-bailable offense of qualified human trafficking under Republic Act 9208, as amended, in a Pasig court.