By Reni M. Valenzuela
“You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.” – Deuteronomy 16:18
It is not only right that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is not letting up in its operation to locate the fugitive self-appointed “Son of God,” Apollo Quiboloy, inside his own “kingdom” to serve the arrest warrant. It is also admirable.
On the one hand, it is weird and preposterous for the Davao court to virtually order a stop to the said operation for flimsy reasons by issuing a “temporary protection order.” Or, does it not?
What is happening in the KOJC or Kingdom of Jesus Christ’s 30 hectare compound is the current Philippine police in action using its force aptly — unlike in the previous administration wherein every move of the police seemed precarious, menacing, “extrajudicial,” and fatal.
Could this be one reason, among others, why the BBM administration (in comparison) may be considered to be better than all the past administrations (from Macapagal onwards), along also, as reasons, its handful good appointees, improving few politicians and Congress that looks like evolving a little to be brave, wiser, godly and conscientious?
It is unfortunate that one KOJC member died of a heart attack at the onset of the operation, but it was a police-brutality unrelated incident. Be sober and humane, still, I should say, dear government forces. Remind yourself always: Respect human rights.
The police of today is far from perfect but it is likewise far — way, way far from the police of yesterday, much less from those during the Duterte watch. Despite some lapses on their part as law enforcers, I say kudos to the recent declaration of PNP chief Major General Rommel Marbil that they would focus more on the masterminds, “targeting sources and supply chains” in their new anti-drug strategy.
Keep it up, DILG and PNP, but rid yourselves of the remaining “rotten potatoes,” crooks and scalawags among the police (and military) — to avoid repeating the same mistake — colossal, tragic, hellish mistake of the Duterte police (and military).
Email: renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com