The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed the cases filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte against several top police and government officials, ruling that there were no irregularities in the 2024 raid on the Kingdom of Jesus Christ’s (KOJC) Glory Mountain compound in Davao City.
In a resolution released Thursday, prosecutors found no probable cause to pursue charges of malicious mischief and violation of domicile, citing insufficient evidence and the presumption of regularity in official duties. Duterte filed the complaints in his capacity as KOJC administrator.
The cases stemmed from a high-profile police operation, where about 400 personnel entered the KOJC property to serve an arrest warrant against founder Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused in multiple lawsuits, including human trafficking, child abuse and other alleged violations.
Duterte argued the actions of the police officers were illegal because they did not have a search warrant. He accused the authorities of forcing their way in, causing damages to property and injuries to church members.
Among the respondents named were Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil and other high-ranking cops as well as then Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. They denied any wrongdoing, asserting the validity of the arrest warrants.
The DOJ concluded that the raid was legally justified, with no proof of malicious intent or unlawful conduct on the part of the police.
“It bears emphasis that criminal prosecutions demand more than the invocation of high office and presumed authority. The law requires evidence of individual culpability—of specific, intentional acts that constitute the offense. The present complaints offer none,” the resolution read.
“Their (police and government officials’) actions, as alleged, fall within the realm of lawful performance of duty and are protected by the presumption of regularity in official functions,” it added.
Both Quiboloy and Duterte are currently in detention in separate locations. The KOJC founder, who ran but failed in his senatorial bid, is being held at the Pasig City Jail. He requested to be placed under house arrest, but was denied by the Pasig City regional trial court Branch 59.
Duterte, meanwhile, is under the custody of the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands. While he was elected mayor of Davao City, it remains to be seen how he can govern pending his pre-trial hearing on murder as a crime against humanity this September.