The Department of Justice (DOJ) has formally received today a complaint filed by the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) against Atty. Israelito R. Torreon, legal counsel of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) Leader Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and several others for sedition and inciting to sedition.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” C. Remulla vowed to closely scrutinize the complaint and file necessary charges, if deemed necessary.

CIDG Director Police Brigadier General Nicolas D. Torre III personally appeared before the DOJ to attest to the veracity of the complaint in reference to the PNP’s service of lawful arrest warrants against Quiboloy et. al. last 24-26 August 2024 but was aggressively prevented by KOJC supporters by barricading their compound, closing down national roads near the area, misleading and attacking police officers.

Consequently, some policemen were severely injured in the performance of their functions as evidenced in their affidavits submitted to the DOJ.

The complaint alleged that KOJC members set tires ablaze, sprayed fire extinguishers at policemen, threw at them expired food, solid wastes, monobloc chairs and stones leading some officers to sustain injuries.

Meanwhile, the CIDG also included inciting to sedition charges against respondent Atty. Torreon and other broadcast personalities/vloggers such as former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Spokesperson Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, Lord Byron Cristobal aka “Banat By,” among others following the posting of reportedly seditious videos by SMNI in their Facebook page.

“We want to assure the public that our prosecutors are on top of the situation, this case will be handled thoroughly with utmost diligence and fairness,” Secretary Remulla emphasized.