TOTAL SNUB
Quiboloy has no respect for Senate — Hontiveros
SENATOR Risa Hontiveros has strongly criticized televangelist Apollo Quiboloy for displaying a lack of respect towards the Senate as an institution through his refusal to participate in its ongoing investigation.
“Kawalan ng galang sa buong institusyon ng Senado ang inyong pagtangging humarap,” Hontiveros told Quiboloy.
Hontiveros, in her capacity as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, ordered the issuance of a subpoena against Quiboloy after he failed to attend the hearing last January 23.
Despite this, the subpoena remained unsigned by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri until Thursday. This delay is significant, especially since the committee’s next hearing is already scheduled for Monday, February 19.
The Hontiveros panel is conducting an investigation into allegations of human trafficking, rape, and sexual and physical abuse against Quiboloy and his religious sect, Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
Rather than confirming his attendance at the upcoming hearing, Quiboloy chose to release an audio file on the Facebook page Buhay Kingdom 2024, where he explicitly stated his refusal to participate in the Senate inquiry.
Quiboloy said that he believes it is the role of the court, not the Senate, to establish a person’s guilt or innocence.
During the committee’s January 23 hearing, several witnesses who were previously affiliated with KOJC came forward with accounts of alleged sexual abuse, directly implicating Quiboloy.
Quiboloy’s absence at the hearing prompted Hontiveros to issue a subpoena, compelling his presence at the upcoming hearing, the specific date of which has not yet been disclosed.
While Quiboloy sent his lawyer to represent him at the hearing, Hontiveros emphasized that the presence of legal counsel would be “irrelevant” since the accusations made by the victims should be directly addressed by the religious leader himself.
Hontiveros also mentioned that additional witnesses are anticipated to come forward in the subsequent Senate investigation regarding KOJC.
Quiboloy’s camp has maintained that both the Senate and House hearings are politically motivated.
His supporters also asserted that the timing and nature of the investigations suggest ulterior motives aimed at discrediting him and his affiliated organizations.
They argued that the allegations raised against him are baseless and part of a broader campaign to undermine his reputation and influence.
