Pastor Apollo Quiboloy

The House of Representatives' issuance of a subpoena against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is a sign that the chamber is ready to order his arrest, should the need for it comes up. 

Thus, said lawyer-solons Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Migs Nograles and 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez in a press conference Tuesday, Feb. 20, a day after the House issued the subpoena against the controversial pastor. 

Quiboloy is widely known as the founder of television network SMNI, the operations of which are currently suspended. 

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises chaired by Parañaque City 2nd district Rep. Gus Tambunting has been leading the investigation on the alleged franchise violations of SMNI. The subpoena seeks Quiboloy's attendance in a March 12 hearing of the panel. 

"The committee will not be able to issue any subpoena if the committee and the House is not ready [to order his detention]," said Nograles, a deputy majority leader. 

"This is a matter of due process. It's only right also na dumating po, sana (to appear, hopefully), si pastor para masagot po niya yung mga katanungan (this will allow him to answer questions) that is in relation to him and his own personal knowledge. 

"It's his right. Sana dumating siya (I hope he comes to the hearing)," she stressed. 

Nograles said it would be better for Quiboloy to appear before the panel and answer solons' questions "instead of insinuating a lot of things". 

Gutierrez, a minority congressman, agreed with the lady solon. 

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"So if next hearing, absent po ulit siya (if he is absent again), I would say, I think, ready po yung committee (the committee is ready) to contempt and seek the subsequent arrest [of Quiboloy]," he said. 

"Just to reiterate, napaka importante po sana yung presence ni Pastor Quiboloy...ang daming violations na nakikita namin sa committee, ngunit parang hindi po sapat yung mga sagot ng kanilang representatives," he said. 

(Pastor Quiboloy's presence is very important...the committee is seeing many violations, but the network representatives have not answered them satisfactorily.) 

"As a lawmaker...we demand answers po. So sa tingin po namin importante na nandoon si Pastor Quiboloy (So we think Pastor Quiboloy's presence there is important)," added Gutierrez.

An invited resource person to a committee hearing may get cited in contempt if he or she is perceived to be uncooperative. Contempt citation involves incarceration at the House for a period determined by the solons.