AMID the reported possible reversal of the ruling of the Senate Committee citing Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder and leader Pastor Apollo Carreon Quiboloy in contempt, Senator Risa Hontiveros insisted that justice must prevail for women victim-survivors of KOJC.

Hontiveros’ reaction came in time for the celebration of International Women Day.

Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, has led three inquiries into the reported cases of large-scale human trafficking, sexual violence, and child abuse allegedly perpetrated by Quiboloy.

The senator has also presented firsthand testimonies of women who were allegedly routinely assaulted by the religious leader for several years.

“Our women witnesses have had to overcome overwhelming feelings of shame and fear in order to speak their truth, to get justice, and to find peace. Ngayong ipinagdiriwang natin ang araw ng kababaihan, sana matiyak natin ang hustisya para sa bawat babaeng paulit-ulit na inabuso ng taong itinangala nila,” Hontiveros said.

In the previous hearings, former members who identified as “pastorals,” or women who occupy a prestigious position in the Kingdom because they are assigned to perform personal tasks for Quiboloy, revealed that they were allegedly coerced to sleep with the Pastor as a sign of their devotion to him.

“Hindi lang Pilipinang menor de edad ang diumanong ginahasa ni Quiboloy, pati mga dayuhang pinangakuan niya ng maganda at mapayapang buhay sa Davao. We’ve heard the stories of at least three Ukrainian women who left everything in Ukraine only to be exploited by the Pastor. They were effectively used as sex slaves,” Hontiveros said.

“I also have to stress that these abuses are ongoing. Maraming mga pastoral pa ang nasa loob ng Kingdom na patuloy na inaabuso diumano ni Quiboloy,” the senator added.

In 2021, a US Court indicted Quiboloy for heinous crimes committed in America, including the systematic rape of women, as well as minors as young as 11 years old.

Early this week, the Department of Justice directed the filing of trafficking and child abuse charges against the KOJC leader after a review of a complaint filed by a 17-year-old girl in 2019.

“This IWD, I call on all of us to listen to these women and girls. Let us not waste their courage. Hindi madali ang ginawa nilang pagbahagi ng mga mapapait na karanasan alang-alang sa hustisya.

Let us show them that justice in this country can work for the most vulnerable,” the senator said.

“To the victim-survivors, your strength and resolve remind us of the women before us who fought for our dignity, our freedom, and our rights. Your grace amid this chaos inspires us to stand with you, tall and undeterred. Umaasa ako na titindig hindi lang ang Senado, kundi ang buong bansa, kasama ninyo,” Hontiveros concluded.

Meanwhile, in a press conference, Senator Robinhood Padilla argued that there is a separation between the church and the state which the Senate he said must acknowledge.

He also revealed that five senators already signed the document objecting the possible arrest of the KoJC leader.

“Sana para huwag na lang itong lumaki. Nasa DOJ na pabayaan na lang natin. Meron tayo sa Constitution ng paghihiwalay ng simbahan at estado. ” Padilla said.

Padilla argued that since the case was already filed before the proper court, Quiboloy will have his chance to prove his innocence in court.

Aside from Padilla, those who already signed include Senators Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, JV Ejercito, and Bong Go. The said document objected the Senate’s issuance of arrest warrant against Pastor Quiboloy.

Reportedly, those who refused to sign include Senator Raffy Tulfo and Senator Grace Poe.

Under the rules of the Senate, the majority of the members of the committee have seven days to formalize their opposition to a ruling. The committee has a total of 14 members.

Members of the Senate Committee include Hontiveros; Senator Nancy Binay, vice chairperson; Senators Pia Cayetano, Grace Poe, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Raffy Tulfo, Christopher Lawrence Bong Go, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Mark Villar, Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Koko Pimentel III.

Earlier, Hontiveros asked Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to order Quiboloy’s arrest.