The Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, February 23 confirmed that the camp of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, leader of the religious sect Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), has already accepted the Senate’s subpoena on Thursday.

According to Hontiveros’ office, the organization’s legal counsel, Marie Dinah Tolentino Fuentes had received the subpoena for the embattled televangelist, who has been accused of sex offenses.

The Senate has ordered Quiboloy to appear at the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality’s investigation into the KOJC’s alleged crimes which constitutes sexual abuses, human trafficking, and forced labor.

“Inuudyukan ko talaga si Apollo Quiboloy na humarap na sa Senado upang sagutin yung mga seryosong alegasyon laban sa kanya (I challenge Apollo Quiboloy to face the Senate and respod to the serious allegations against him),” Hontiveros said in an interview after attending the EDSA Anniversary Mass.

She said the Senate has also asked the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against the KOJC leader.

“Dahil may ILBO at lalo na’t dahil may sabi na ang Senate, ay siguro naman dagdag na pangungumbinse o pag-uobliga kay Quiboloy na humarap na po sa aming komite (Since there is already an ILBO and especially since the Senate has already issued an order, maybe this will additionally convince and oblige Quiboloy to face us in the committee),” she said.

“Ang sabi ko nga kay Quiboloy, huwag siyang pavictim. Ang hinihingi lang naman sa kanya ay humarap sa mga legal na proseso kasama na po yung Senate investigation (As I’ve said to Quiboloy, don’t play the victim. All we want to ask of him is to face the legal process, and that includes the Senate’s investigation),” the lawmaker said.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, likewise, called on Quiboloy to participate in the Senate probe.

“Importante na galangin natin ang proseso lalo na pagdating sa investigation, inquiry at Senate hearings. Iyan ay proseso na sinusundan ng lahat, ikaw man ay mayaman o mahirap, kilala ka man or hindi, sinusundan iyan ng lahat (It’s important to respect the process especailly in terms of investigation, inquiry and Senate hearings. That’s a process everyone follows, whether you’re rich or poor, popular or not, everyone follows that),” Gatchalian said in an online interview.

The Senate probe, he also said, would also provide him a venue to clear his name and explain his side on the issue.

“So, hindi lang naman ito side ng mga accusers but side niya rin para masagot niya ang mga inaakusa sa kanya (So this is just not to hear the side of the accusers, but also his side, so he can also respond to the accusations against him),” he said.