Quiboloy Arrest Leads to Dismissal of Several Police Officers from Their Posts
QUIBOLOY – A number of police officers, including three officials, were removed of their duties due to alleged violations committed while executing an arrest warrant for Apollo Quiboloy.
Several police officers, including three high-ranking officials, have been dismissed from their positions due to alleged misconduct during the attempt to serve an arrest warrant on fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy.
Based on a report from Inquirer, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo announced on Friday at Camp Crame in Quezon City that the officials involved in the operation to serve the warrant against Quiboloy have been administratively removed from their posts.
Fajardo identified the officials as Police Brig. Gen. Aligre Martinez, Director of Police Regional Office 11; Police Maj. Gen. Ronald Lee, head of the PNP Directorate for Operations; and Police Col. Edwin Portento, Director of the Intelligence Group.
Additionally, nine members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, two from the Special Action Force, and one from the Traffic Enforcement Unit were also dismissed. She said, “They were administratively relieved to give way for the investigation that we will conduct to determine if there were lapses, excessive force, or if there was negligence of supervision.”
READ ALSO: Rodrigo Duterte Criticizes Police Raid on Quiboloy’s Properties
Fajardo stated that the investigation will enable the PNP to determine the truth about what actually transpired on June 10 when the police attempted to detain Quiboloy on allegations of s*xual assault and human trafficking.
The operation against Quiboloy’s arrest has been criticized by former President Rodrigo Duterte, who also labeled it “overkill” and said that the police used “excessive force” to enter and search the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) leader’s properties.
“This incident occurred within a place of worship and on school premises, which is absolutely unacceptable,” said Duterte, a close friend of the pastor.
“Will this overkill be the trademark of this administration when dealing with individuals who are merely accused of committing a crime and have not been proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt? Will they exhibit the same lack of self-restraint they have shown toward critics of this administration when dealing with their supporters?” he asked.
However, the PNP maintained that both the arrest warrant and the Quiboloy operation were legal. Fajardo said, “The PNP stands by its position that what we have implemented is an arrest warrant validly issued by our courts.”