HONTIVEROS PRESSES QUIBOLOY’S ARREST
SEN. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros has again asked Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri to approve the arrest order for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy after she rejected the televangelist’s reasons for not showing up at the Senate’s inquiry on his alleged abuses against some of his followers.
Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Children, Women and Family Relations, earlier asked Quiboloy to explain why he should not be cited for contempt and be arrested for snubbing the probe on his alleged sexual abuse and maltreatment.
Some members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) headed by Quiboloy claimed that he raped them. Some male members said he forced them to beg in the streets and malls.
During Monday’s briefing, Hontiveros said Quiboloy, through his lawyer, sent a letter justifying the televangelist’s refusal to attend the probe.
“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.
“They did nothing but rehash previous arguments they made for not attending our Senate hearings,” she added.
Hontiveros requested Zubiri to approve the issuance of an arrest order against Quiboloy “to compel his attendance” before the committee.
“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.
Zubiri said he has yet to study Hontiveros’ request. The senator said he just got back Sunday night from the official trip of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the Czech Republic. “I shall review the reply of Pastor Quiboloy and Senator Risa today so we can make a decision soon.”
Earlier, Sen. Robinhood Padilla sought the support of at least eight panel members to overturn the contempt citation against Quiboloy. He said Quiboloy should instead face the charges in court.
Padilla managed to get the support of Sens. Christopher “Bong” Go, Maria Josefa Imelda “Imee” Marcos, Cynthia Villar and Mark Villar.
House probe on SMNI
In the House of Representatives, Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez of the party-list 1-Rider said that the chamber will tackle on third reading this week the bill that seeks to revoke the legislative franchise of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
House Bill 9710, filed by Gutierrez on Dec. 11, 2023, hurdled second reading last Wednesday.
On Mar. 12, 2024, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises approved the bill after conducting hearings.
The House committee “after exhaustive deliberation ... concluded that the grantee committed several violations of its franchise granted under Republic Act [RA] 11422,” Parañaque 2nd District Rep. Gus Tambunting, the committee’s chairman, said in his sponsorship speech at the plenary on March 13, 2024.
Among these violations were blatant red-tagging, fake news peddling, and violations of broadcasting standards, Tambunting said.
In a subpoena issued last month, the House directed Quiboloy to appear before the committee to testify on Mar. 12, 2024.
During the hearing at the House, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio appealed to the committee to “defer the implementation of the contempt order” for a few days “until after I have advised my client.”
The committee postponed the implementation of the contempt order for several days.
Topacio said Quiboloy refused to show up because he “is apprehensive that his rights may not be respected because of a frenzy surrounding the investigation.”
Suarez said that the committee has given all resource persons due process. “I don’t think any rights would have been violated if he presented himself,” he said.