CEBU CITY – Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is disrespecting the law for continuing to ignore the Senate which is investigating accusations of abuses against him, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said.
SEN. Risa Hontiveros (right) answers questions from the media during a press conference in Cebu City on Thursday, March 21. (Calvin D. Cordova)
In a press conference here on Thursday, March 21, Hontiveros welcomed the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ ministry.
“I thank Senate President Migs Zubiri for signing the warrant of arrest against Quiboloy,” said Hontiveros.
The Senate Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms (OSAA) will serve the arrest warrant “any time now” and is already coordinating with the Police Regional Office-11 (PRO-11).
The Senate issued the arrest warrant after Quiboloy continued to ignore the subpoena asking him to appear in the investigation being conducted by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality headed by Hontiveros.
The Senate investigation stemmed from complaints of human trafficking, sex-related offenses, and violence filed against him by Quiboloy’s former followers.
“Binabastos niya ang batas ng Pilipinas. Binastos na niya ang mga bata, mga babae, at mga lalaki in the guise of secretive religious organization,” said Hontiveros.
Hontiveros said the investigation is well within the rules of the Senate and upheld by the Supreme Court.
She received a report that the Davao City police could not help in the arrest of Quiboloy as they have yet to receive a copy of the warrant.
“Copies of the warrant of arrest were already out. The OSAA will serve it in the known address of Quiboloy in Davao,” said Hontiveros.
Hontiveros disclosed that the PRO-11 assured her that they will help and assist the OSAA in the serving of the warrant. “That is professionalism and that is what is expected of them,” the senator said.
She said there is still another batch of witnesses who will testify against Quiboloy once the hearing resumes.
Hontiveros urged Quiboloy to cooperate in the Senate hearing to enable him to answer the allegations against him but made it clear that the pastor’s decision to ignore the hearings will not impede the investigation.
She criticized Quiboloy for purportedly giving 17 conditions for him to appear before the Senate. “Never before that there were witnesses that included ex-Presidents, a sitting Senate President, high-ranking Cabinet officials, generals, bishops who demanded conditions. But he doesn’t want to appear and even came up with a list of conditions,” Hontiveros said.