Lawyers poised to assail arrest, detention order vs. Quiboloy

EMBATTLED televangelist Apollo Quiboloy may challenge before the Supreme Court the arrest order issued by the Senate against him, according to one of his lawyers.

Pro-Quiboloy Senator Robinhood Padilla also said a petition before the Supreme Court could be a legal alternative for the beleaguered Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) disclosed that the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office has initiated preliminary investigations against Quiboloy and some of his associates on charges of sexual and child abuse.

Senator Francis Escudero explained that the issuance of arrest order against Quiboloy was merely ministerial, adding that the KOJC leader could be discharged upon appearance at the Senate hearing, either personally or virtually.

For his part, Senator Ronald dela Rosa offered protection for Quiboloy who has claimed there was a death threat against him.

“The judiciary could interpret the constitutional limitations on the power of Congress to conduct investigations,” counsel Elvis Balayan said.

He said filing a motion over Quiboloy’s arrest “was part of the process allowed under existing

laws and that is a very big possibility that we will elevate the matter before the appropriate courts.”

“It could be before the Supreme Court,” Balayan said.

The lawyer added however, that it would be up to his client how to deal with the detention order issued by the Senate.

The Senate on Tuesday ordered the arrest and detention of the Quiboloy for his continued snub of the chamber’s hearings into alleged human trafficking and sexual abuse crimes, some of which have been filed before the courts.