(UPDATE) EXECUTIVE Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Monday denied that the hunt for Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy is politically motivated and insisted that efforts to collar the fugitive evangelist are justified because the “law must take its course.”

The Palace executive made the statement following allegations that attempts to arrest Quiboloy were “overkill” because the religious leader is on the other side of the political fence.

On Saturday, around 2,000 Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel stormed the KoJC compound in Davao City to serve the arrest warrant against Quiboloy, who is facing human trafficking and sexual abuse charges.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. FILE PHOTO

One KoJC member was confirmed to have died due to a heart attack, while “many others” required medical attention.

This earned the ire of Quiboloy’s staunchest supporters, among them former president Rodrigo Duterte, who has been very vocal in criticizing the present administration.

But Bersamin maintained that Quiboloy must be brought to justice.

“He is answerable to the law; the law must take its course. There is a process,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice reported the rescue of several alleged victims of human trafficking during the execution of a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy in Davao City.

The rescued victims, said Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, are now under the protection of the Philippine National Police after having been assessed and processed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in accordance with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

In a statement, Remulla hailed the Philippine National Police for the rescue of the alleged human trafficking victims.

Remulla urged victims and their families, as well as other KoJC members, to come forward, assuring them of their safety and protection.

“l also call for a stronger collaboration between and among the DoJ through the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat), the PNP, and the DSWD to ensure airtight cases against the perpetrators with the end view of delivering justice to their victims. Let us continue fighting this human trafficking menace which hounds society, particularly the vulnerable sector,” he said.

Iacat said it takes every report on human trafficking with “utmost seriousness and remains committed to ensuring the safety and protection of all victims.

It said this is not the first time that it has received information about alleged human trafficking within the religious organization.

Iacat urged all law enforcement agencies to continue their search for potential victims of trafficking “but always upholding the law and respecting human rights.”

“We also call on the members of the KoJC to cooperate fully in the ongoing efforts to implement the warrant of arrest and rescue other potential victims,” it said.

Together with the DoJ, Iacat said it is coordinating closely with the PNP and DSWD Region 11 to provide comprehensive support to the alleged victims and to assist in the case build-up.

“If and when the facts are verified, and there is indeed a case for human trafficking, prosecution shall ensue,” it said.

Also on Monday, Philippine National Police chief Rommel Francisco Marbil urged political backers and influential supporters of Quiboloy to show true leadership by advising the pastor to adhere to the rule of law and to respond to the accusations leveled against him through proper legal channels.