“IPAKITA mo ang galing mo pagharap mo sa Senado.”

This was the challenge raised by Senator Risa Hontiveros who chairs the Senate Comittee on Women, Children, family relations and Gender Equality after religious leader Apollo Quiboloy said that he would not attend the Senate investigation which he described a “bogus investigation.”

Quiboloy was called for the investigation under Senate Resolution no.884 after he was alleged to be behind several crimes like the sexual abuse, human trafficking, etc. committed in his Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC).

Hontiveros through her committee sent a formal subpoena signed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri was formally sent and received by the camp of Quiboloy in Davao city last week.

Quiboloy encouraged Hontiveros to stop using the said investigation as he urged the lady solon to bring the matter to the proper court.

“Only a court, not a Senate hearing, could determine whether a person is guilty or innocent.” Quiboloy was quoted as saying.

“Go to court and file a case against me. I will answer you there because it would have fair play,” he said, speaking partly in Filipino, in an audio statement posted on the Facebook page of the Buhay Kingdom 2024.

But Hontiveros said it is an obligation for Quiboloy to face the Senate.

“Siya ang dahilan bakit nag isyu ang senado ng subpoena dahil dinedma niya ang dalawang naunang imbitasyon. Binabalaan ko siya pag hindi siya mag attend sa susunod na hearing,” Hontiveros warned.

Earlier, Quiboloy said the hearing is in violation of his constitutional rights and is meant to humiliate him using the alleged bogus witnesses.

Quiboloy has claimed a plot to have him killed in connivance with the US authorities particularly the CIA and the FBI and that prompted him to go into hiding despite a subpoena issued to him asking him to appear before the senate investigating body.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Camille P. Balagtas