QUIBOLOY STILL IN THE COUNTRY – BI

PASTOR Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Davao-based church Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), is still in the country, contrary to reports that he has fled abroad to avoid being served congressional subpoenas.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) records showed that the last time the 73-year-old Quiboloy left the country was on July 16. He returned home after six days.

The BI records contradict reports that Quiboloy is in China.

There were reports that Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri did not immediately sign the subpoena against Quiboloy requested by Sen. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros.

The subpoena compels Quiboloy to attend the Senate inquiry into the alleged abuses he committed against members of his group, some of whom have testified before senators.

Zubiri signed the subpoena on February 19. He said he had been busy attending to pressing issues between the Senate and the House and by pending administrative work.

“In the middle of our efforts to protect the institution, a lot of our administrative work has piled up in my office, including paperwork that needs my signature,” he said, explaining the delay in approving the subpoena.

A separate subpoena was issued by the House of Representatives on Monday requiring Quiboloy’s presence during the March 12 hearing of the House legislative franchises committee.

On Tuesday, Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez (1-Rider Party-list) said the committee will cite Quiboloy in contempt if he fails to show up at the hearing on the bill that seeks to revoke the franchise of his Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

Gutierrez is the author of the measure, House Bill 9710.

Rep. Margarita Nograles (Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Party-list) said Quiboloy must attend the hearing so he could answer questions “in relation to him and his own personal knowledge.”

Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Quiboloy’s presence “is very, very vital in the ongoing committee hearings ...”

The subpoena was signed by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Parañaque City 2nd District Rep. Gus Tambunting, the committee chairman.

Last February 7, the legislative franchises committee approved the issuance of a subpoena to Quiboloy.

Rep. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela Women’s Party) said during that hearing “it’s about time we have him sit, face us, so we can directly ask Pastor Quiboloy our questions.”

The committee was told during the hearing that Quiboloy was SMNI’s honorary chairman and was not part of its operations.

In the bill’s explanatory note, the committee identified “numerous transgressions and abuses on the part of the franchise grantee.”

Among the “infractions” involved Section 4 of the franchise grant.