The Philippine Army investigates claims that reservists joined the Angels of Death or the alleged private army of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, September 17, Col. Rey Balido, deputy spokesperson of the Philippine Army, said that the military will coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in order to verify the declarations made by PBGen. Nicolas Torre III, chief of the Davao Police Regional Office.
Balido also noted that the Sonshine Media Network International, the media outfit of KOJC, earned accreditation as a Philippine Army Reservists affiliated unit in 2015.
"They are called the 2nd Signal Battalion ng Philippine Army affiliated reserved unit. We tapped them because of their expertise in communications," Balido revealed.
Torre divulged on Sunday, September 15, that the Angels of Death include 'accredited reservists' trained by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
"Kami, PNP at AFP, ang nag-train sa mga iyan, sa paghawak ng baril, sa tactics. Unfortunately, iyon nga, ang loyalty nila ay nandoon kay Quiboloy, wala sa organization, wala sa bansa natin," Torre told DZRH.
Torre said that police seeks to identify these reservists in order to revoke their License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOP).
PCol. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson of the PNP, earlier said that the victims of Quiboloy kept quiet about the misdeeds of the religious leader due to the existence of the Angels of Death.
