EMBATTLED televangelist Apollo Quiboloy faced a strong call to cease dodging accountability after he failed to attend a Senate investigation, leading to a directive to issue a subpoena compelling his attendance in the next hearing.

The call came from Arlene Caminong Stone, one of the witnesses against Quiboloy, who is facing allegations of human trafficking, rape, and sexual and physical abuse, before the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.

Despite receiving an invitation, Quiboloy was a no-show at the hearing, opting to send a lawyer as his representative. This move prompted committee chairperson Senator Risa Hontiveros to order the issuance of a subpoena against the religious leader.

In a recent interview, Stone expressed her frustration with Quiboloy’s apparent evasion of responsibility, urging him to confront his accusers directly.

“Face us and admit what you do. Don’t try to hide from anyone or from whatever lies [you] created from the beginning,” Stone, who is now based in Minnesota, said.

“Parang nagsasawa na kami. ‘Yong dina-dodge ba niya even the system. Hindi siya nagpapakita sa mga hearing. Laging merong dahilan. Nakakagalit na talaga,” Stone added.

Stone, a former member of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church, served in the capacity of a “pastoral.”

In the hearing, Stone recounted to the committee how the preacher allegedly subjected them to physical harm for seemingly trivial reasons, as their actions were perceived as breaches of KOJC rules.

Three additional witnesses, including two Ukrainian women, provided detailed accounts of the alleged abuse they endured at the hands of Quiboloy.

Hontiveros stated that a subpoena would be issued to ensure Quiboloy’s physical presence in the next hearing this month, the exact date of which is yet to be announced.

The Senate investigation, prompted by a resolution filed by Hontiveros, delved into alleged misconduct by Quiboloy, supposedly carried out under the pretext of enforcing obedience within his followers.

According to the resolution, Quiboloy is accused of maintaining a group of women, termed “pastorals,” holding prestigious positions within the organization and assigned specific personal tasks and errands.

It further alleged that Quiboloy had a stable of women performing various personal tasks like washing clothes, bathing him, cleaning his bedroom, and providing massages.

Disturbingly, the resolution claimed that some of these pastorals were reportedly minors during recruitment and throughout the period they were purportedly subjected to perform alleged sexual services.

Quiboloy’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, dismissed the Senate probe as a witch-hunt.

“The Senate investigation is not proper. These shameful allegations will be tried in the courts of the United States,” Topacio asserted.

Quiboloy and associates at KOJC face indictments for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking through force, fraud, and coercion in the U.S.

The 74-page indictment accuses Quiboloy and other church officials, including two U.S.-based administrators, of orchestrating a sex-trafficking operation.

Victims as young as 12 were allegedly threatened with “eternal damnation” and physical abuse.

The indictment outlined the recruitment of females aged 12 to 25 as personal assistants, or “pastorals,” who were allegedly compelled to perform various duties, including sexual activities during what was referred to as “night duty.”