His friends should encourage his appearance

Aside from Senator Robin Padilla, three other senators have agreed to block the detention of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for defying the Senate investigation into the alleged sexual abuses in his ministry. These are Senators Cynthia Villar, Imee Marcos, and Bong Go.

Padilla earlier said he is defending Quiboloy who is his friend and fights communism with him.

“He is not just a friend. He is a comrade who shares my principles against armed communist struggle,” Padilla said, adding that Quiboloy’s network also showed his films.

As for Villar, she said she finds the accusations hard to believe because Quiboloy is a long-time family friend.

“He is kind to us. I find the cases filed against him hard to believe,” Villar was quoted as saying in a Philstar.com report.

Marcos said the investigation appears to be prosecuting Quiboloy already.

“I don’t see which part here is in aid of legislation. The cases are also still sub judice. It may end up being a judicial question,” Marcos said.

Let’s get this straight. There is nothing wrong with senators being friends with people of influence and there is nothing wrong when defending friends in their time of need.

But they aren’t just people with friends; they are senators of the republic who have greater responsibilities. For the sake of public interest there are friendships that must be put aside in the pursuit of justice. The law must be allowed to take its course.

In the case of Padilla, the fact that Quiboloy showed his films or fights against communism like he does shouldn’t mean he should defend him immediately.

In the case of Villar, the fact that Quiboloy is a family friend doesn’t mean he doesn’t do illegal activities that she may not be aware of.

In the case of Marcos, the investigation cannot help but look that way because the accused himself is already acting like he is guilty.

It is the image of Quiboloy itself that will suffer the longer he delays appearing before the Senate. Again, if he has nothing to hide then he should be able to face the investigation and answer questions like any innocent man can.

His friends in the Senate ought to encourage his appearance.