MORE witnesses are expected to surface the Senate hearing ofthe charges against televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, Senate Committee on Eomen, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality chair Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed.

Hontiveros added that her committee had invited to three more individuals who were mentioned in the victims’ testimonies during the investigation.

Senate Resolution 884 was filed by Hontiveros that seeks to investigate the accusations against KOJC in aid of legislation ” in order to know and determine whether our updated human trafficking laws are able to cover large-scale and systemic acts of trafficking done under the cover of a religious organization.”

“Apollo Quiboloy, is a self-proclaimed ‘Appointed Son of God and the leader and founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ The Name Above Every Name (KOJC)’, allegedly demands strict obedience from his full-time followers through brainwashing, psychological manipulation and constant threats of eternal damnation,” the senate resolution stated.

But Quiboloy and his legal counsel dared Hontiveros to bring the allegations to the proper courts and dismissed the Senate probe as a mere “deception” and a “mere kangaroo court.”

Kung malinis ang konsensiya niya (Quiboloy), hindi siya dapat mag alangan harapin ang ganitong uri ng mga akusasyon lalo pa at hindi ordinaryong kaso ang mga ipinararatang sa kanya. Ito po ang tamang panahon para linawin ni Pastor Quiboloy ang kaniyang pangalan sa harap ng mga nagpaparatang sa kanya. At kung tingin niya ay klaro ang kanyang konsensiya ay hindi po siya aayaw sa isang pagkakataun upang harapin ang mga taong nag aakusa sa kanya.” Hontiveros said in an interview.

Hontiveros added that her committee sent at least two invitations for Quiboloy to attend but the latter continue to refuse saying that his constitutional rights was violated by the investigating committee.

“Kung talagang sa tingin ni Mr. Quiboloy ay wala siyang dapat katakutan at wala siyang dapat iwasan, ito ang tamang panahon para harapin niya ang mga akusasyon laban sa kanyan. Nakapagpadala po ng dalawang imbitasyon, one by LBC and one by registered mail ang ating komite, pero walang sagot at attendance ni Pastor Quiboloy, the chair would move to subpoena Pastor Apollo Carreon Quiboloy for the next hearing of this committee,” Hontiveros said.

It was learned from Hontiveros that Quiboloy has sent a letter to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri which was recommended to be admitted for record purposes in the senate committee.

Pastor Quiboloy of KOJC has been linked to cases of large-scale human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence, and child abuse not only here in the Philippine but in the United States as well where he is facing some criminal charges.

Hontiveros said Pastor Quiboloy must take it as a challenge if he really believes that these people were uttering these lies against him.

“Dapat po kayo humarap Pastor Quiboloy sa ating pagdinig sa ating komite. Hindi po kayo anak ng diyos na exempt sa awtoridad ng estado,” Hontiveros said. Camille P. Balagtas

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Camille P. Balagtas