Apollo Quiboloy (MANILA BULLETIN)

Who's talking about criminal liability against SMNI founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy? 

This was House Deputy Speaker Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez's reaction Monday, Feb. 26 to some senators' call to "respect the rights" of Quiboloy by filing charges against the pastor in court instead of getting him grilled by solons in a committee hearing.

"I think we need to respect the legislative processes of both the Senate and the House. It's the prerogative of the committee to determine and to invite resource persons so that proper legislations can be enacted," Suarez said in a press conference. 

"Hindi naman po dapat umuwi sa kasuhan kung wala naman pong krimen at kasalanan, di ba?" he added, as if to highlight a point. 

(If there was no crime or wrongdoing committed, then why should things end up with the filing of cases?) 

Both the House of Representatives and Senate issued subpoenas last week against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader. The House wants to hear Quiboloy's side on the issue of television network SMNI's alleged franchise violations, while the Senate wants answers from the pastor regarding allegations of human trafficking and abuses against women and children. 

On Sunday, Feb. 25, Senators Robinhood "Robin" Padilla and Francis "Tol" Tolentino came to the defense of Quiboloy and called for objectiveness. 

They argued that since Quiboloy also enjoys rights, his camp should be given the opportunity to answer the allegations in court, as opposed to the pastor being forced to attend hearings in aid of legislation. 

READ ME AGAIN: 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/22/castro-verbally-castrates-quiboloy-wag-ka-ngang-feelingero

A subpoena is a strong-worded summon. If ignored, the erring party could be cited in contempt by the solons. 

But the deputy speaker insisted that the embattled pastor needs to surface, at the very least before the concerned House committee. 

"Ang hinahanap lang po ng Committee ng Franchise, pumunta siya dito para sagutin po yung mga katanungan nung mga miyembro ng Committee ng Franchise. Wala naman po tayo na pinag-uusapan na kaso, so bakit natin kailangang dalhin sa korte?" Suarez said. 

(What the Committee on Franchise wants is for him to appear here and answer the questions of the committee. We're not talking about any case, so why bring this matter to court?) 

"I think he is the person who is with the right knowledge and information to discuss and to explain the needs and the requirements of the Committee on Franchise," he added. 

Quiboloy-also known as former president Rodrigo Duterte's spiritual adviser--is reportedly in hiding.