PBGen. Nicholas Torre III, Regional Director of PRO 11, has challenged Atty. Israelito Torreon, the legal counsel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), to substantiate his allegations regarding the photos he released, which purportedly show the Philippine National Police (PNP) conducting excavations in the basement of Jose Maria College (JMC).
Although the PNP neither confirmed nor denied conducting excavations within the compound, PBGen. Torre still urged Atty. Torreon to prove his claims.
Torre stated, “Let them reveal who provided the photo and give a source statement because I can easily do that in Photoshop.”
Earlier, Atty. Torreon reported that the police had allegedly dug as deep as 8 meters in the basement of JMC.
Torreon maintains that the actions of the police are illegal since any search conducted on a person’s property is only permissible with a valid search warrant issued by a court.
However, in this case, he claims that even after 11 days with no arrests, the PNP has been conducting intrusive searches on properties not registered under the accused’s name.
In response, PBGen. Torre clarified that a search warrant is only for items and contraband.
“We have not claimed that there is contraband inside KOJC, nor have we said that there are firearms, drugs, or anything that would require a search warrant and confiscation. What we have is a warrant of arrest,” Torre stated.
(Wala kaming sinasabi na may kontrabando sa loob ng KOJC, wala kaming sinasabi na may baril diyan, wala kaming sinasabing may drogra diyan, wala kaming sinasabing may dapat kaming i-search warrant diyan at kumpiskahin namin. Ang meron kami ay warrant of arrest.)
Torre emphasized that their biggest challenge remains the refusal of KOJC members to allow them access to certain parts or rooms within the compound, which is why the search for the accused has yet to be completed.