Photo Release

Human rights issues: Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa questions the presence of police outside the 30-hectare compound of the Kingdom of the Jesus of Christ (KOJC) in Davao City. Dela Rosa said he inspected the compound and felt sorry for both the church members and the policemen assigned in the area because they haven’t been home for the last two weeks. “The pressing matter now is the question of human rights. Just this morning, we conducted an ocular inspection at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound. Thousands of PNP personnel have been there since August 24. Counting today, 13 days have passed for this operation that has required the combined number and force of four regions,” Dela Rosa said during the public hearing conducted by the Committee on Justice and Human Rights at the Sangguniang Panlungsod building in Davao City Friday, September 6, 2025. Dela Rosa said students and employees who were barricaded inside the compound have not attended classes nor reported for work for 13 days. Dela Rosa also asked the police to answer allegations of throwing tear gas near the KOJC stockroom and the use of Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) during church service. LRAD is capable of producing loud sounds and may cause eardrums to explode even after brief exposure. The police said they were not aware of the prayer schedules and activities inside the compound. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)