Sen. Robinhood Padilla seeks a probe on the operation conducted by the Philippine National Police on the properties of the religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ in Davao City.
Padilla filed Senate Resolution No. 1051 that directs the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs to investigate in aid of legislation whether the PNP used 'unnecessary and excessive force' in the operation last June 10.
"There is a need for the PNP to promote and protect human rights because these very acts are vital to the maintenance of public order, guarantee of public safety, and respect for the rule of law," Padilla said.
"Records bear several instances in the past when the PNP was called out for its use of excessive force in the service of its warrants," he added.
The senator mentioned that some reports claim that some missionaries suffered injuries during the ensuing tension caused by the serving of the arrest warrant against KOJC founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and five other individuals by members of the PNP - Special Action Force (SAF) and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
Padilla pointed out that PNP adopted a Human Rights-Based Policing (HRBP) policy that stresses that 'the first level of its human rights obligations is to respect human rights by refraining from interfering with the enjoyment of people's rights'.
"The Revised PNP Operational Procedures dictates that, in the lawful performance of duty, only necessary and reasonable force, should be used to accomplish the task of enforcing the law and maintaining peace and order," Padilla stressed.
During the serving of the arrest warrant, supporters of Quiboloy prevented the cops from entering the KOJC compound.
Cops managed to enter the premises after negotiating with the members of KOJC but failed to find Quiboloy, who face charges for child abuse, sexual abuse, and human trafficking, or his five other co-accused.
Vice President Sara Duterte and her father, former Presiden Rodrigo Duterte, has criticized the PNP for 'excessive' use of force in serving the arrest warrant against Quiboloy.
