Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero ordered on Wednesday, Oct. 23, the partial suspension of Senate work due to the inclement weather brought by Tropical Storm Kristine.
"All other Secretariat employees need not report for work. Senate proper employees may or may not be required to report for work at the discretion of their respective principals," he said in a statement.
However, Escudero instructed Secretariat officers and employees whose services are essential for the conduct of scheduled hearings to report for work.
Among the hearings scheduled is the inquiry of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality led by Senator Risa Hontiveros into the reported violation of human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence, and child abuse in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
The Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 159 has granted the Senate’s request for KOJC founder and televangelist Apollo Quiboloy to appear.
Quiboloy arrived at the Senate at 9 a.m. from the Pasig City Jail where he's detained.
He has been charged in the Philippines with qualified human trafficking and child abuse—both non-bailable—and in the United States with sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.