MANILA, Philippines — Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta has urged the Fee on Human Rights (CHR) to look into potential civil and spiritual rights violations within the police’s raid of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) compound in Davao Metropolis.
On the Home of Representatives’ committee on appropriations’ listening to on Monday concerning the fee’s proposed funds for 2025, Marcoleta requested CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc if they’ve achieved something to examine on the alleged rights violations after the Philippine Nationwide Police (PNP) enforced an arrest order in opposition to KJC founder Apollo Quiboloy.
Marcoleta burdened there’s a want for CHR’s fast motion for the reason that PNP operations have hampered non secular actions within the KJC headquarters.
“I’d surmise that worship companies have been interrupted; some actions related with non secular perception might need been interrupted. These are severe violations of their political and civil rights. Possibly like marriages are being celebrated in that compound, baptism, in all probability, something you would possibly assume, actions which can be associated to their religion. And right this moment, that’s nonetheless present, I feel they’re nonetheless prevented from doing that,” Marcoleta mentioned.
In response, Palpal-latoc mentioned they’ve despatched out investigators on the grounds.
“The sector of our regional workplace continues to be conducting its investigation, and we count on the regional workplace to submit its advice the soonest, your Honor. And, sure, I agree with you that there are a number of rights which may be concerned right here, one in all which is, as you talked about, the non secular freedom of the KJC members, and there could also be different civil liberties which may be affected, your Honor,” Palpal-latoc mentioned.
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“Earlier, Madam Chair, we famous that the CHR acceded to one in all our interpolators’ proposition that preventive is the higher aspect of the CHR’s perform […] And at the start else occurred, like what you mentioned, that there might need been a number of acts already achieved in violation of their civil and political rights, did you not hassle to no less than publish a few of your members or anyone there, even earlier than the occasions unfolded in order that we may have prevented most of it, if not all?” Marcoleta requested.
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“We had, your Honor. The truth is, we assigned no less than three investigators within the space, your Honor, as early as September 1,” the CHR head replied.
Marcoleta nevertheless was not glad, asking Palpal-latoc once more if they’d achieved something to forestall the alleged rights violations.
“Investigating and monitoring, Mr. Chair, shouldn’t be ok. Contemplating the unfolding of occasions in a number of days and persevering with as much as right this moment, I feel CHR ought to do one thing. As a result of we have to shield them. Defending their human rights is the middle of the perform of the CHR. Am I right?” Marcoleta mentioned.
“Sure, your Honor. However earlier than the fee acts on the scenario and to carry out no matter is important, we now have to conclude our investigation. So we now have to find out primarily based on our personal [findings],” Palpal-latoc added.
Final August 24, round 2,000 PNP officers raided the KJC compound because of the perception that Quiboloy, who’s dealing with prices of kid abuse and trafficking, is holing up within the space. The operation, nevertheless, led church members to stage protests within the neighborhood of Buhangin District.
At least Vice President Sara Duterte condemned the PNP’s actions whereas apologizing to KJC members for asking them to vote for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the course of the 2022 polls.
On Monday, the CHR got here out with a press release saying that they’ve been monitoring the scenario on the KJC compound every day, by way of its regional workplace in Area XI.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., final August 27, in the meantime maintained that there have been no human rights violations in the course of the police raid on the KJC compound, including that such claims are “political” and “unfaithful.”
READ: Marcos: No human rights violations in KJC compound raid
Marcoleta and CHR’s exchanges throughout funds deliberations go means again, even earlier than the time period of Palpal-latoc. In 2017, Marcoleta infamously moved to provide CHR a P1,000 funds — a movement that was accredited with 119 lawmakers voting within the affirmative, and solely 32 within the damaging.
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The P1,000 funds was given to CHR in the course of its criticism of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug warfare.
