Apollo Quiboloy
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros schooled religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, telling him he’s not a child of God and above the State’s authority.
The Senate Committee on Women is conducting a hearing on allegations of sexual abuses against Quiboloy.
READ: Senate panel subpoenas Apollo Quiboloy over alleged sexual abuse
Hontiveros moved to summon the religious leader for not showing up despite being invited several times.
“Gusto ko lang mag address ng isang closing statement kay Pastor Quiboloy mismo. Kayo Pastor ang dapat humarap sa susunod na pagdinig because you are being subpoenaed by this committee. Hindi kayo anak ng Diyos na exempt sa awtoridad ng estado,” said Hontiveros in her closing statement.
(I want to address a closing statement to Pastor Quiboloy himself. It would be best if you, Pastor, appeared in the next hearing because this committee is subpoenaing you. You are not a child of God exempt from the state’s authority. Even the Supreme Court has no power to stop any inquiries [or] such inquiries by the Senate and the requiring of people to appear before it.)
Quiboloy’s absence was left unexplained. His legal counsel, Atty Melanio Elvis M. Balayan, represented the religious leader.
READ: Victim-survivor tells all: KJC conceals sexual abuse, calls it a ‘special privilege’
Hontiveros, however, maintained that Quiboloy’s absence was a blatant disrespect to the upper chamber.
“Kahit ang korte suprema ay walang kapangyarihang pigilan ang anumang inquiries [o] ganitong inquiries ng Senado at ang pagrequire sa mga taong humarap dito,” she pointed out.
(Even the Supreme Court has no power to prevent any inquiry or Senate inquiries such as this, and its power to require people to appear here.)
“Kawalan ng galang sa buong institusyon ng Senado ang inyong pagtangging humarap. Higit pa, hindi ito religious persecution. Ito ay pagsisiyasat sa paggamit, paniniwala, pananalig o pananampalataya ng iba para gumawa ng mga kasuklam suklam na abuso at pinsala sa mga taong binaluktot ang paniniwala, tinanggalan ng lakas, at pinagsamantalahan,” Hontiveros added.
(Your refusal to appear disrespects the entire institution of the Senate. Furthermore, it is not religious persecution. It is an investigation into the use, beliefs, or faith of others to perpetrate heinous abuses and harms on people who have had their beliefs distorted, disempowered, and exploited.)
Hontiveros said they would bring in more witnesses willing to speak about the sufferings they endured under the helm of Quiboloy.
Victim-survivors, on the other hand, were told that at the right time, justice would be served.