Former President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech on June 14, 2022. Alberto Alcain, Presidential Photo/File

DAVAO CITY (UPDATED) — Former President Rodrigo Duterte condemned what he said was "excessive and unnecessary force" by police in serving the warrants of arrest for Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy on Monday, which led to tensions between police officers and church members.

Quiboloy is facing abuse and trafficking cases in Davao City and Pasig City courts.

Over 100 policemen from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Special Action Force, and other Philippine National Police units stormed the properties of Quiboloy, including the KOJC compound in Buhangin, Davao City, and the Prayer and Glory mountains in Barangay Tamayong early Monday.

READ: PNP enters Quiboloy compound in Davao City

The 1987 Constitution guarantees the right against unreasonable searches and seizures and warrants are required for arrests and searches.

Despite the tension between police and Quiboloy's supporters on Monday, nobody was reported hurt.

'UNACCEPTABLE'

"This incident occurred within a place of worship and on school premises, which is absolutely unacceptable," Duterte said in a statement posted on his official Facebook page.

 "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?" he added.

Duterte, when he was president, played down human rights in peace and order operations and in his administration's so-called war on drugs.

RELATED: PH rights victims still face challenges seeking justice, UN report shows

Quiboloy is a close friend and spiritual adviser of Duterte.

Last March, Quiboloy's SMNI announced that Duterte was appointed as the administrator of the properties of KOJC.

Quiboloy and his supporters have denied the sexual abuse and trafficking allegations, saying these were made by former members who have grudges against the religious group.

He has also denied allegations of rape, saying his women followers fight each other to be with him.

READ: Quiboloy accuses alleged rape victims of 'Potiphar's wife syndrome'

'LACK OF SELF-RESTRAINT AGAINST CRITICS'

The former president also raised concerns about whether the authorities might exhibit the same lack of self-restraint towards critics of the current administration.

"How can this administration guarantee the preservation of the constitutional rights of our fellow Filipinos when even the most fundamental of these rights are being trampled upon and blatantly violated?" Duterte, who previously accused critics of 'weaponizing' human rights, said.

He also claimed that the responding police officers were not from Davao City.

Police Regional Office 11 earlier said that the responding policemen were from the Davao region, with additional police personnel from Regions 10 and 12.

READ: PNP urges Quiboloy to surrender, face charges

Meanwhile, the KOJC condemned the manner of implementing the arrest warrants and called it excessive and overkill.

Quiboloy's KOJC reported that at least 3 people were injured in the short tension that transpired when policemen tried to enter through the gate of Quiboloy's compound.

"The police arrival was really unannounced, and we were caught by surprise as the police officers had already visited the KOJC Central a number of times prior to this morning’s incident. Thus, when the police officers used make-shift stairs in trying to climb the walls of the KOJC compound, the members were alarmed," the KOJC said.

PRO XI spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey said on Monday that the church members might have already known about the operation, as many of them had already been guarding the properties before the warrant of arrest was implemented.

"As much as ginagawa naman natin na smooth ang operation, pero hindi naman kasi natin kontrolado lahat ng information and knowledge. Pero ang aim natin ay... magiging peaceful ang pag-serve ng warrant of arrest," the PNP Davao region spokesperson said.

The KOJC also reported that aside from the main gate that was smashed at the Glory Mountain in Brgy. Tamayong during the forced entry of the PNP, 9 church members were handcuffed by the police for allegedly carrying bolos during the raid.

"Clearly, the raids resulted in damage to KOJC’s property, unjust handcuffing or arrest of KOJC members, and injuries to several individuals, among others," the church said.

"We shall continue to pursue all legal remedies to protect the constitutional rights of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the Kingdom leaders and the entire Kingdom of Jesus Christ," it added.