MANILA — A court did not order the police to stop its ongoing operations at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City to arrest fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the Department of Justice said Wednesday.

The Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 15 on Tuesday ordered the Philippine National Police to remove its barriers or blockades around the 30-hectare KOJC property, saying these hinder the exercise of members' religious, academic, and property rights. 

READ: Court orders PNP to remove barriers around KOJC compound, stop ‘threatening’ activities

According to Presiding Judge Mario Duaves, the Davao City police barricaded entry and exit points to the KOJC compound in Buhangin, Davao City.

A potential confusion lies with the other order from the Davao City court, which also directed the PNP to "immediately cease and desist from any act or omission that threatens the life, liberty, security, or property of the petitioners." 

The PNP has said it will file a clarificatory motion on the court's order.

"I don't think the cease-and-desist order was a blanket cease-and-desist order," DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano told ANC. "It [was] really related more to the ingress and egress of the followers into and out of the compound."

Clavano said the court was "specific enough" about the adjustments and changes the police must make in their ongoing hunt for Quiboloy, who faces human trafficking and sexual abuse cases before the Davao City and Pasig City courts.

"So I believe we should take the directive literally, we stick to the wording and I think if there needs further clarification on what needs to cease and desist, then the court should be able to speak again. But in this case, I believe, since the wording is like this, then we just have to stick to it," Clavano said.

"What we can expect today perhaps is really just an adjustment by the police since the court has already spoken."

READ: CHR urges restraint from PNP, KOJC as search for Quiboloy continues

'CLASH OF RIGHTS' INEVITABLE

Hundreds of police officers began storming the sprawling KOJC property on Saturday in search of Quiboloy, which led to a standoff between them and members of the religious group, along with exchanges of allegations of misconduct and rights violations.

Clavano admitted that the serving of warrants of arrest for Quiboloy could result in a "clash of rights even when a valid action of the government — and in this case, the police — is being carried out."

"Sometimes, we do really need the courts to say that there has been a clash of rights and that we need to protect one over the other," he said.

"In this case they obviously decided that the right of the supporters to practice their religion, their property rights weighs more than the right of the government, through its police power, to serve its warrants of arrest."

He said the role of the court in the situation is to assess which rights are being pushed by the other, arguing it does not mean that how the warrants are being served is wrong.

"I don't think that a competent court would overturn another competent court who issued a valid warrant of arrest," he also said.

PNP WON'T LEAVE KOJC COMPOUND 

The PNP believes that Quiboloy and his cohort are holed up in an underground bunker at the KOJC property. Drilling near Quiboloy's suspected hiding place began on Tuesday. The PNP vowed it would not leave the compound until he is found.

When asked if the drilling operations violate Quiboloy's property rights, Clavano said he believes that the police are doing "the right thing."

READ: PNP begins drilling at alleged bunker inside KOJC compound — lawyer

Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed appointed son of God, has denied the sexual abuse and trafficking accusations against him, claiming these were made by former members who have grudges against the KOJC.

He has also denied allegations of rape by claiming his women followers fight each other to be with him.

READ: PNP won't stop search for Quiboloy in KOJC compound