Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's defense of religious freedom

The attempt of my former UE Law student, the lawyer of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, to avoid arrest by the Senate for contempt, as well as the insinuation to use the freedom of religion as a shield against the order of DOJ Secretary Boying Remulla to file appropriate charges against the pastor are bound to fail.

I say that with due respect. One cannot avoid a Senate subpoena, much less move in cavalier fashion to frustrate criminal prosecution by brandishing freedom of religion. There is palpable evidence to show that the lawyers and supporters of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy are using the Bill of Rights in our Constitution, specifically, the freedom of religion, as a blanket defense against the moves of the Department of Justice to file charges against the pastor, as well as the ongoing Senate investigation in aid of legislation and the contempt order issued by committee chairwoman Senator Risa Hontiveros.

Senator Hontiveros declared the pastor guilty of contempt for refusing to attend the ongoing legislative investigation on child abuse and human trafficking. Here are the words of the crusading lady senator: "By Section 18 of the Rules of the Senate, as Chair of the Committee, and with the concurrence of one member present, (Senator Aquilino Pimentel III), I, at this moment, declare Apollo Carrion Quiboloy in contempt for his refusal to be sworn in or to testify before this investigation. The Committee urges the Senate President to issue an order for his arrest so that he may be compelled to testify."

One senator, Robinhood Padilla, without giving any reason, manifested his objection to the contempt declaration. It is well known that Padilla is a close ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte who is also widely known to be a close friend of Quiboloy. Almost simultaneously, the Department of Justice reversed the prosecutors in Davao and ordered the latter to file appropriate charges against Quiboloy.

Some people staged a demonstration in the Liwasang Bonifacio to protest against what they call persecution of their religious leader. I saw former Palace spokesman Harry Roque speaking before the demonstrators. It is their common refrain that Quiboloy is being persecuted due to his religious activities. They are wrong, I have to say this.

It is our considered view that this time the camp of Quiboloy is missing the point either intentionally or unwittingly. Both the Senate and the DOJ are correct. Religious freedom cannot be invoked as a blanket defense to avoid all these mounting legal problems. Quiboloy is not being held to account for his freedom to believe and his freedom to act on his belief. The Senate investigation focuses on the testimonies of witnesses who were allegedly made to beg in public places to raise funds for Quiboloy's church. Some alleged details on supposed sexual and lascivious acts based on their supposed personal knowledge. All these have nothing to do with religion.

I am sure that his lawyers, one of whom was under me in the college of law of one Manila-based university in the eighties, know very well that they are fighting an uphill battle. Not even priests and bishops in the US and in Europe could evade judicial, legislative, and administrative inquiries related to sexual molestation of minors, both boys and girls. The Church has paid billions of dollars in settlement money for such cases.

And these are issues that are totally and absolutely distinct and separate from religion. The Quiboloy camp cannot use God as a defense against the law. If I were to cite Matthew 22:21, these people should be told: Render unto Caesar or to the government the things that pertain to the government, and to God the things that are God's. Pastor Quiboloy should come out and face the music. If he is made of sterner stuff than Arnie Teves, he should face the music. Even Jesus Christ himself appeared before Pontius Pilate.