A NEW batch of victim-survivors will be presented in the next hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is conducting a probe against founder and leader of Kingdom of Jesus Church (KOJC) Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

In a press conference in Cebu City, Hontiveros said that aside from the Anti-Money Laundering Council officers, new witnesses who allegedly suffered from the hands of Quiboloy and the KOJC finally decided to come out to tell their stories.

Hontiveros revealed that more and more people are trying to get in touch with them but her committee opted to filter those who are expressing their willingness to testify before the investigating body.

The senator divulged that they already coordinated with the right government agencies for the security of these witness survivors, citing the fact that they are receiving left and right threat and harassment from the camp of Quiboloy and his alleged followers.

She also admitted receiving unsavory words and threat but revealed that she decided to pursue this investigation in aid of legislation to know if there are flaws in existing laws specifically on secretive religious organization like KOJC.

“Minsan natatakot din po ako. Natural lang naman po yun dahil tao naman din tayo. Pero hindi po tayo pwedeng maduwag at kailangan po natin lumaban para sa tama at katotohanan.

Nagdadasal na lang po ako kay God the Father na tulungan niya ako na maipagpatuloy ko ang aking trabaho,” Hontiveros admitted.

Hontiveros said her committee and the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms already coordinated with the Philippine National Police in Davao who expressed readiness to all possible eventualities.

“Nagbigay naman po sa ating ng kasiguruhan ang Region 11 ng PNP na aalalayan po nila ang OSSAA sa pagsasagawa ng kanilang delivery of the warrant of arrest,” she said.

“Isa po ang naging maliwanag sa aming pag-review — that his explanation is nowhere near satisfactory. Puro rehash ng previous argument lang ulit ang sinabi nila,” Hontiveros said.

Quiboloy’s lawyer Atty. Melanio Elvis Balayan earlier confirmed receipt of the show cause order and insisted that the KOJC leader will not attend the hearing saying that compelling his client to attend in the hearing is tantamount to usurpation of judicial functions which they said is beyond the powers of the Senate.

However, Hontiveros countered this accusation saying the Senate has “never claimed to be the judge.”

“A Senate resolution has no effect and force of law and can make no such legal determination of guilt or deprive anyone, including Quiboloy, of life, liberty or property as a result of its material averments or findings,” she said.

Hontiveros stressed that Quiboloy is one of the most wanted in FBI list and the US government had ordered to freeze all his assets in the US.