By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Wednesday (28 August 2024) questioned the number of police officers who were deployed to issue the warrant of arrest to Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
Dela Rosa said that he supports the PNP’s desire to fulfill their duty to serve the arrest warrant but the deployment of 2,000 policemen from different regions in Mindanao and their encampment inside and outside the KOJC compound seems questionable.
“As a former Chief of the Philippine National Police, I have not encountered an operation to implement a warrant of arrest wherein we deployed forces close to 2,000 people,” Dela Rosa said.
He stressed that only 44 Special Action Forces with more than 200 backup police officers have been involved in the implementation of the warrant of arrest against one of the most wanted terrorists in the United States, Zulkifi Abd Hir also known as “Marwan,” who has a five million US dollar bounty.
“Kaya ang tanong ng mga miyembro ng KOJC, mas mapanganib ba si Pastor Quiboloy kaysa sa isang most wanted terrorist? Mas mapanganib ba ang Davao City compared doon sa Mamasapano na napakaraming umiikot na mga armadong tao?” Dela Rosa asked.
The lawmaker also took a swipe at the leadership of the PNP Regional Office XI for putting the police officers involved in the operations at risk.
“Tila isinusubo niyo sa kapahamakan ang ating mga pulis. Inaakay ninyo sila sa bangin na maaaring magdulot ng kamatayan sa kanilang mga promising careers,” he said.
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