SENATOR Risa Hontiveros yesterday said Apollo Quiboloy, who stands accused of rape, human trafficking, sexual violence, and child abuse, should now also answer to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) whose salaries were forcibly taken as donations for himself and his religious group, Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).

In the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality hearing, the senator presented Reynita Fernandez, an OFW based in Singapore, who divulged that she and other domestic workers were pressured and harassed into giving 90% of their salaries to Quiboloy.

“Araw-gabi kumayod ang mga OFW, tapos imbes na mapunta sa pamilya nila ang pinagtrabahuan nila, pilit silang hinuhuthutan ni Quiboloy. Di na nga nakukuha ang sweldo nila, pinagbebenta pa sila ng kung ano-ano para lang maka pagremit, hindi sa kanilang pamilya kundi sa Kingdom,” Hontiveros said.

“Si Reynita, nawalan ng bahay, dahil sa kakabigay ng buong salary niya, at sigurado hindi lang siya ang OFW na nabiktima. We call our OFWs our modern-day heroes, yet we are failing to protect them from fraudsters like Quiboloy. Sana magkaisa ang Senado para mabigyan ang ating mga kababayan ng hustisya,” the senator added.

Hontiveros has cited the KOJC leader in contempt because of failing to show up even after a subpoena was issued. However, Quiboloy’s counsel, through a letter, said that his client refuses to honor the subpoena as he is invoking his right against self-incrimination.

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Camille P. Balagtas