SURIGAO del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel has defended the decision of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises to issue a subpoena for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Davao-based religious group, Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

The subpoena compels Quiboloy’s presence at the hearing on the bill aimed at revoking the franchise of Swara Sug Media Corp., which operates as Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), due to several violations.

Pimentel, vice chair of the committee, underscored the necessity of Quiboloy’s presence, citing his indispensable role in the ongoing hearing.

“We deemed it necessary to compel Pastor Quiboloy’s attendance at the next hearing. He is the main actor in this inquiry, and there are numerous questions that demand his clarification, particularly regarding the ownership of Swara Sug,” Pimentel said in a recent interview with ANC’s Headstart.

According to Pimentel, the committee’s frustration mounted as Quiboloy failed to appear at previous hearings despite invitations.

“On December 5, we invited Pastor Quiboloy to attend the hearing on December 11. However, he was a no-show. Again, he did not show up for [the February 7] hearing,” Pimentel lamented.

Highlighting the significance of Quiboloy’s attendance, Pimentel said, “There are critical issues at stake, especially regarding the ownership of Swara Sug, which necessitate clarification.”

During the last hearing, SMNI’s legal counsel, Mark Tolentino, informed the committee that Quiboloy held the position of “honorary chairman” at the network and was not involved in its day-to-day operations.

However, lawmakers insisted that Quiboloy is the “beneficial owner” of Swara Sug and SMNI, which regularly airs his preachings.

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