After six long months, the Senate is set to resume its inquiry into the reported human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence, and child abuse cases of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) Church leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

This was announced Thursday, Oct. 10, by Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality. She said that they would write to the concerned courts for Quiboloy's appearance.

"Susulat po ulit ang komite sa korte para tulad ng sa ibang mga resource persons na nasa kustudiya ng korte o di kaya ng law enforcement, ay mahingi yung permiso nila na padaluhin siya rito sa hearing (The committee will request permission from the court, just like for other resource persons who are under the custody of the court or law enforcement, to allow them to participate in the hearing)," she said in a press conference.

Hontiveros said that there were victims in the previous hearing who were willing to attend again, as well as new ones who wanted to seek justice.

"Hindi ko pa masabi yung exact number pero over the past seven months na nag-suspend kami, may mga nag-reach out din sa opisina ko at sa aming komite dahil nasubaybayan din nila yung mga naunang mga pagdinig at nasubaybayan nila yung pagtestigo ng mga kapwa nilang victim survivors (I can't exactly say the number, but over the past seven months since we suspended operations, some have reached out to my office and our committee because they've been following the previous hearings and they've heard the testimony of their fellow victim survivors)," she added.

Then-Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri signed the arrest order against Quiboloy last March 19.

The arrest order mentioned Quiboloy's refusal to appear, despite due notices, at the hearings of the Senate panel on Jan. 23, Feb. 19, and March 5, 2024. He merely sent his counsel to appear for him without justifiable reason during those dates.

In the March 5 hearing, Quiboloy was cited in contempt by the Senate panel.

Meanwhile, Hontiveros also hoped that Marisa Duenas, who struck a plea deal with the United States (US) government, would be open to participating in the continuing investigation of the various allegations of abuses and criminal acts of Quiboloy.

"Sana tulad ni Ms. Duenas ay makipagtulungan na sa ating awtoridad ang iba pang kapo-akusado ni Quiboloy. Sana ay pakinggan nila ang kanilang konsyensya at isiwalat na ang buong katotohanan at ang lahat ng kanilang nalalaman (We hope that like Ms. Duenas, the other co-accused under Quiboloy will also cooperate with our authorities. We hope they will come to their senses and reveal the entire truth and all that they know.)," she said. 

Hontiveros said the plea deal of Duenas--a reported long-trusted administrator of the KOJC--with US authorities was a significant step toward securing accountability for Quiboloy's disturbingly long list of crimes here and abroad. These include sexual abuse of minors, qualified human trafficking, child abuse, and others.

She also urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to extend all necessary legal assistance to any co-accused or any other person willing to cooperate toward attaining justice for the many women, child, and other victims of Quiboloy throughout the years.