Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, March 18 said the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality has found Kingdom of Jesus Church (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s response to the show cause order issued by the panel as unsatisfactory.

“We, including my legal team, immediately read through and assessed the documents carefully, mindful of due process for the accused but also with a view to ensuring that the Senate as an institution is protected from dilatory tactics of parties,” Hontiveros said during a press conference at the Senate.

“Isa po ang naging maliwanag sa aming pag-review (One thing is clear in our review): his explanation is nowhere near satisfactory. They did nothing but rehash previous arguments they made for not attending our Senate hearings,” Hontiveros reiterated.

Quiboloy’s lawyer, Melanio Balayan, had earlier confirmed receipt of the show cause order and insisted that the KOJC leader will not attend the hearing.

Balayan said the Senate’s attempt to compel Quiboloy’s appearance in the hearing is"tantamount to usurpation of judicial functions beyond the powers of the Senate.”

The lawyer also said Hontiveros is "incriminatory as it categorically declared the guilt" of the KOJC leader.

But Hontiveros countered this accusation saying the Senate has “never claimed to be the judge.”

“A Senate resolution has no effect and force of law and can make no such legal determination of guilt or deprive anyone, including Quiboloy, of life, liberty or property as a result of its material averments or findings,” she said.

Hontiveros also said the propriety of setting aside the contempt order is already moot since “Quiboloy is already in contempt.”

“Hndi na po mababago iyan. Nagkaroon ng objection, pinagbigyan alinsunod sa rules, pero hindi pa rin nakabuo ng majority signatories (That cannot be reversed. Though there was an objection, it was agreed upon based on the rules, but they failed to muster majority of the signatories),” she pointed out.

“Kaya (that is why) it is clear as day: my ruling is in motion,” the lawmaker emphasized.

“This level of mockery of a Constitutional exercise of duty by a Committee of the Philippine Senate is unprecedented and disturbing, and further confirms Quiboloy’s undue refusal to appear before the Committee, pursuant to Section 18 of the Senate Rules,” she said.

At the same time, Hontiveros again appealed to Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri to issue an arrest order against the KOJC leader.

“Considering all these, once again, I request for the Senate President to issue an arrest order against Apollo C. Quiboloy,” she said.

“He must show up. He must respect the institution of the Senate,” the senator reiterated.