The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday found “moot and academic” a Davao City court’s issuance of Temporary Protection Order (TPO) over police operations in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound.
“As much as the DOJ respects the Court’s prerogative, the Department, nonetheless, believes the TPO is already moot and academic considering the issues underscored therein have all been addressed. The DOJ stands in solidarity with the PNP in upholding the rule of law and in this quest for justice,” the DOJ said in a statement.
The Supreme Court (SC) defines a moot and academic case as “one that ceases to present a justiciable controversy by virtue of supervening events, so that a declaration thereon would be of no practical use or value.”
The Justice Department said they rally behind the PNP in keeping the lawfulness of the arrest warrants served against KOJC founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his accomplices, noting “the police operations are within the bounds of law by virtue of a legal order from a co-equal court.”
“Police operatives allowed free ingress and egress to the compound, hence, the barriers or barricades surrounding the area did not prevent the flow of basic human needs for KOJC members but merely places added security to help law enforcers in advancing their purpose,” the DOJ said.
It added the actions of the PNP were executed in accordance with a valid warrant of arrest. Therefore, the grounds for invoking a writ of amparo do not apply, as there was no unlawful act that warrants such protection.
