By Vince Lopez and Macon Ramos-Araneta
The Philippine National Police cordoned off the worship cathedral in the compound of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), after denying their request to celebrate their 39th founding anniversary yesterday in the facility.
“The PNP refused my client’s request to use the KOJC Cathedral so they will just use, instead, the front portion of the KINGDOME as per PNP’s instructions,” Atty. Israelito Torreon, KOJC head legal counsel, said.
Atty. Torreon also said the PNP has taken control over the cathedral despite the Temporary Protection Order (TPO) issued by the court.
“They are controlling and occupying the KOJC Cathedral, hence, we have to deal with them,” Torreon said.
The PNP has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
As this developed, Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa said the fugitive pastor would only surrender if he is not extradited to the US..
“That’s it basically- that’s the bone of his contention- that he refuses to be turned over to the US,” he said.
“It’s not a demand. It can be a condition to surrender,” said Dela Rosa in a telephone interview.
He also said he has not talked to Quiboloy or his lawyer about this matter.
“At the end of the day, it’s his call. It’s his call if he wants to surrender or not,” De La Rosa said.
Meanwhile three Malaysian nationals who claimed to be members of KOJC were barred by immigration authorities from entering the Philippines.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Sunday the three Malaysians were ordered to board a flight back to Malaysia last August 28.
In their incident report, the BI supervisors who interviewed the Malaysians said the trio said they were going to Davao City at the invitation of the KOJC.
However, they failed to show any proof of their financial capacity to support their stay in the country, admitting that they are unemployed.
During an interview one of them inadvertently showed screenshots of various anti- government slogans to an Immigration supervisor.
When asked to explain the screenshots, the passenger said she accidentally downloaded them from her Facebook/Messenger page.
The Malaysians have been placed in the immigration blacklist and banned from entering the country.
“Our immigration officers discovered their intent to participate in anti-government demonstrations being staged by KOJC members who are protesting the ongoing manhunt for Pastor Quiboloy,” Tansingco said.
He stressed that “foreigners have no business interfering in the country’s internal political affairs, thus aliens who join these protest actions can be expelled for violating our immigration laws and for being undesirable aliens.”
