Former President Rodrigo Duterte aired his sentiments regarding the recent manhunt operation conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 11 at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City, which aimed to serve an arrest warrant against the evangelist and fugitive Apollo Quiboloy.
Duterte stated that the country has never been in a more tragic state than it is today.
"Rights have been trampled upon and our laws, derided," Duterte said in his official statement on Saturday.
The former president conveyed his sympathies to the KOJC members affected by what he referred to as a 'violent confrontation,' which caused one death and left others in need of urgent medical treatment.
Duterte said that the members became victims of political harassment, persecution, violence, and abuse of authority. He then added that this incident casts a 'dark stain' over people involved, specifically the top officials of the region.
"We call on the remaining decent and patriotic members of our government not to allow themselves to be used and to be abusive and violent in enforcing illegal orders," said Duterte.
Duterte called on Filipinos to pray for peace and justice and to protect the public from the unnecessary tension caused by the fear and intimidation from those who are supposed to enforce the law and safeguard the citizens.
"Again, let us ask this administration how it can guarantee the preservation of the constitutional rights of our fellow Filipinos when even the most fundamental of these rights are being blatantly violated?" said Duterte.
On Saturday morning, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 11 raided the KOJC compound with over 2,000 officers in riot gear, aiming to arrest the fugitive religious leader Apollo Quiboloy.
Based on reports, a 51-year-old KOJC member died of a cardiac arrest amid the police operation conducted in the compound.
