SURIGAO del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel warned of possible arrest for televangelist Apollo Quiboloy if he continues to skip committee hearings on the bill seeking to revoke the legislative franchise of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

Pimentel, vice chair of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, outlined the panel’s next steps under House rules if Quiboloy fails to attend the next hearing.

“Under our House rules, we can cite him for contempt for non-appearance or non-cooperation. If he continues to evade the hearings, we will request Speaker Martin (Romualdez) to issue a warrant of arrest,” explained Pimentel.

Pimentel underscored the precedent for such actions by drawing parallels with past cases, particularly the congressional inquiry into the alleged involvement of former Senator Leila De Lima in illegal drugs.

He recalled that during that time, then-Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez issued a warrant of arrest against De Lima’s alleged bagman and driver, Ronnie Dayan, for failing to comply with the committee’s summons.

“A similar course of action could be pursued if Quiboloy persists in his absence from the hearings, despite the issuance of a subpoena and potential contempt proceedings,” Pimentel warned.

The warning comes amid mounting frustration within the committee over Quiboloy’s failure to attend hearings regarding the bill aimed at revoking the franchise of Swara Sug Media Corp., operating as SMNI.

Quiboloy’s repeated absence from the hearings prompted the committee to issue a subpoena compelling his attendance.

Pimentel stressed the importance of Quiboloy’s presence, highlighting his crucial role in the ongoing inquiry.

“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.

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

However, lawmakers insisted that Quiboloy is the true “beneficial owner” of both Swara Sug and SMNI, which frequently broadcasts his sermons.

SMNI is under threat of having its franchise revoked due to numerous violations, including spreading fake news, involvement in red-tagging activities, and failure to comply with the conditions stipulated in its franchise.