Davao Region police chief sacked

MANILA, Philippines — The director of Davao Region police was relieved from his post as controversies surrounded the serving of arrest warrants against fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy and five others last June 10.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 11-Public Information Office chief Major Catherine Dela Rey told INQUIRER.net that an order for the discharge of Brig. Gen. Aligre Martinez is already in effect.

“May relief order na po effective today, June 14, 2024, concurrent RD ng PRO 11 na si Police Brig. Gen. Aligre Martinez,” dela Rey said in a phone interview.

(A relief order is effective today, June 14, 2024, for concurrent RD of PRO 11 Police Brig. Gen. Aligre Martinez.)

READ: Quiboloy sect: PNP ‘not telling truth’ on June 10 operation in Davao

“Ang papalit po sa kanya ay si Police Brig Gen. Nicolas Torre III, his last assignment po ay from the communications and electronics service po,” she added.

(He will be replaced by Police Brig Gen. Nicolas Torre III, who was last assigned to PNP’s communications and electronics service.)

Torre was the chief of the Quezon City Police District who resigned on August 30, 2023, after receiving backlash for holding a press conference with dismissed policeman, Wilfredo Gonzales, who was caught on video threatening a cyclist with a gun.

Dela Rey said they have yet to receive information on why Martinez was relieved, but the order came after Quiboloy’s camp issued a statement claiming that authorities “attacked” their Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) compounds in Davao City with “unnecessary and unrestrained force.”

But the PNP has maintained that the June 10 law enforcement operation against Quiboloy and his subordinates in Davao City was conducted “in strict compliance with its legal security protocols.”

It added that the service of the arrest warrants did not cause any harm to anyone.

READ: Senate eyes probe into latest attempt to arrest Quiboloy

On April 3, a Davao Regional Trial Court ordered the arrest of Quiboloy and his men, namely, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada, Sylvia Camanes, and Jackiely Roy, over charges of violating Republic Act 7610, or the Anti-Child Abuse Law, specifically the provision on sexual abuse of minors and maltreatment.

A Pasig City court likewise issued an arrest warrant on Quiboloy, who has been claiming to be the “appointed son of God,” for a non-bailable offense of qualified human trafficking on April 11.

Also, a Senate panel investigating the alleged criminal offenses of Quiboloy and KJC released an arrest order against him for his repeated failure to attend the probe.