MANILA — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines chapter in Davao City on Sunday called for sobriety and for respect for the rule of law from all parties involved as the Philippine National Police continued its search of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound for its leader Apollo Quiboloy and other group leaders facing abuse and trafficking cases in court.

The fresh attempt by the PNP to serve warrants of arrest on Quiboloy and his co-accused began early Saturday morning and has caused tension in and around the KOJC compound.

In a statement, IBP-Davao City said its call "applies to our law enforcement officers implementing warrants of arrest as well as to the subjects thereof and the people affected by the implementation."

It affirmed that the PNP has the authority to implement warrants as ordered by the courts, saying also that "there are…limits imposed by the law on what can, and should be done, in the exercise of duty and authority."

READ: VP Duterte condemns ‘abuse of power’ in PNP search of Quiboloy compound

It said that while law enforcement can enter a place "and even break into such a place if refused admittance after announcing their authority and intention" but are not authorized to occupy the premises nor to bar the entry and exit of "any lawful occupant thereof."

Davao City’s lawyers also reminded police that the use of force should be proportionate to the danger they are facing.

They also said, however, that people in the KOJC compound "are also duty bound by law to allow the police to exercise their authority" and warned that attempts to keep law enforcement personnel from doing their jobs could lead to criminal liability, especially if done violently.

"The subjects of any warrant are also duty bound to abide by the orders of our courts and thus, should surrender peacefully so that our judicial system can perform its function, and the judicial process can be applied in the course of the law," IBP-Davao City said.

READ: Quiboloy follower dead from 'cardiac arrest' as PNP searches KOJC compound anew

It added that courts should be allowed to ensure proper implementation of the law and to strike a balance between the authority of the state and the rights of citizens.

"We must abide by the rule of law because the consequence of failing to do so will be chaos in our society and violence against our citizens," it also said.

Vice President Sara Duterte and her father former President Rodrigo Duterte — both former mayors of the city — have condemned what they said was abuse of power in the search for Quiboloy, their longtime political ally. 

Police B.Gen. Nicolas Torre III, police director for the Davao Region, has said meanwhile that the police are executing a proper court order and that police personnel have followed protocol in the ongoing search operation.

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