‘Quiboloy must show up to answer OFWs’ allegations’

SEN. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros on Sunday said that Apollo Quiboloy, who stands accused of rape, human trafficking, sexual violence and child abuse, should also answer the allegations of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who claimed to have been forced to donate for the pastor’s religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).

During the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality hearing, the senator presented Reynita Fernandez, an OFW based in Singapore, who divulged that she and other Filipino domestic workers were pressured and harassed into giving 90 percent of their salaries to Quiboloy.

“Our OFWs work 24/7. However, their families get nothing because they’re being pressured and harassed into giving 90 percent of their salaries to Quiboloy and his Kingdom,” Hontiveros said.

“We call our OFWs our modern day heroes, yet we are failing to protect them from fraudsters like Quiboloy. I hope we in the Senate will be united in asking for justice for our countrymen,” the senator added.

Hontiveros has cited the KOJC leader for contempt for ignoring the subpoena issued by her panel. However, Quiboloy’s counsel, in a letter, said that his client refuses to honor the summons to protect his right against self-incrimination.

“The invocation of the right against self-incrimination must be made by a witness present and on a per-question basis. This has been settled by the Supreme Court, meaning that Quiboloy should still show himself in the Senate. He is being accused of rape, human trafficking, sexual violence, and child abuse, but he has decided not to surface. Why is he hiding? Why is he so afraid?” Hontiveros said.

“More and more victim-survivors have reached out to my office to share the horrific abuses they experienced as members of KOJC. I call on my colleagues in the Senate to listen to these victim-survivors,” the senator said.