MANILA — SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta sees a possible violation of worshipers' rights in the ongoing police operations at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) property in Davao City to search and arrest fugitive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

During the Commission on Human Rights' budget briefing before the House Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday, Marcoleta said the police operations likely interrupted activities connected with the religious beliefs of KOJC members.

Quiboloy, who faces sexual abuse and human trafficking charges before Philippine and US courts, is believed by the police to be hiding in an underground bunker at the KOJC property.

READ: PH police attempt anew to open KOJC main gate

"Considering that it is a religious denomination, I would surmise that worship services were interrupted, some activities connected with religious belief might have been interrupted," Marcoleta said.

"These are serious violations of their political and civil rights. Maybe like marriage are being celebrated in that compound, baptism probably, anything you might think, activities related to their faith. And today, that is still existing. I think they are still prevented from doing that," he said.

RELATED: Court orders PNP to remove barriers around KOJC compound, stop ‘threatening’ activities

The PNP has said it would not stop with its search operations at the 30-hectare KOJC compound until Quiboloy is found. 

The religious leader's camp has insisted that police officers should have left the property when they failed to locate Quiboloy during their attempts to serve arrest warrants for him, arguing that the police risk violating his proprietary rights.

READ: Quiboloy left KOJC compound in March: lawyer

At a different budget hearing in 2017, Marcoleta moved to give the CHR a budget of just P1,000 for supposedly focusing on alleged abuse by state forces like the Philippine National Police and "not upholding the human rights of everyone."

CHR INVESTIGATION

The Commission on Human Rights said it is already investigating possible human rights violations in the police operation at the KOJC compound.

Around 2,000 police officers trooped to the KOJC compound last month in a latest attempt to serve the arrest warrants for Quiboloy. 

They were met with protests from angry KOJC members, who blocked police officers' entry into the sprawling compound by massing together and positioning heavy equipment and several vehicles.

Riot police implemented dispersal as KOJC members refused to budge on their ultimatum to break up the barricade. Quiboloy's lawyer said at least 18 KOJC followers were arrested.

"The commission is investigating the incidents concerning the KOJC. Our regional office is still conducting its investigation. We expect the regional office to submit its recommendation the soonest," CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-Latoc said.

Palpal-latoc said they assigned at least three investigators to the area as early as September 1.

He noted that "there are several rights that may be involved" in the standoff and ongoing hunt for Quiboloy, including the religious freedom and civil liberties of the KOJC members.

READ: VP Duterte acknowledges debt of gratitude to KOJC, stands with group amid ‘abuse’

When asked if the CHR has a power to restrain or even advise the members of the PNP as to the actions they should do in relation to possible violations of political and civil rights, Palpal-Latoc said, "They have no power to prevent, but they can advise the state actors."

Marcoleta said the CHR's move to investigate and monitor the incidents at the KOJC compound is "not good enough," but Palpal-latoc said an investigation is necessary before the CHR can make a move.

"Considering the unfolding of events in several days and continuing up to today, I think CHR should do something, because we need to protect them. Protecting their human rights is at the center of the functions of the CHR," Marcoleta said.

The CHR expects to give the committee an update on its investigation after its en banc meeting on September 10.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel meanwhile sought to clarify the role and powers of the CHR in dealing with incidents involving the police. 

When Manuel asked if the CHR can stop incidents as they happen, Palpal-latoc said it is unrealistic to expect the commission to intervene directly in ongoing conflicts, as doing so would put their personnel at risk. 

The CHR chair explained that the commission's role is to call parties together, recommend actions, and conduct investigations, especially when marginalized groups are involved.

—report from Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News

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