Apollo Quiboloy (FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — Religious leader Apollo Quiboloy challenged Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday to help witnesses bring their sexual abuse allegations against him to court, where he said he could have “fair play.”
Quiboloy made the statement after skipping the probe conducted last Tuesday by the Senate Committee on Women into the alleged crimes committed in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), the pastor’s organization.
The committee subpoenaed Quiboloy for the next hearing.
“I challenge you: Go to court, make those allegations detailed in an affidavit, and let them [witnesses] sign it. And then charge me with whatever charges you want to do. You are welcome there where our fight will be fair,” Quiboloy said, addressing Hontiveros, in a video statement posted on the Facebook page of Buhay Kingdom 2024.
“If you cannot do that, you did not respect my constitutional rights. I will from now on not respect you as a senator of this country because you are hearing innuendos, and you are smearing my reputation,” he added said.
According to Quiboloy, he refused to be the subject of public humiliation by attending a “bogus hearing” with “bogus witnesses.” He said these witnesses should prove their credibility by revealing their identities.
He also accused Hontiveros of being “unfair” in her statements, already convicting him during the recent hearing.
During the Senate probe, one of the witnesses, alias Amanda, revealed her experience as a former “full-time miracle worker” of the KJC, where she was promoted as a close-in staff at 16 and was forced to have sexual intercourse with Quiboloy at 17.
Other witnesses said some KJC members were allegedly subjected to “exploitative activities” such as begging and soliciting money.
The hearing stemmed from Senate Resolution No. 884 and Hontiveros’ privilege speech baring Quiboloy’s alleged involvement in the sexual abuse of women and children members of the KJC, similar to events occurring in the alleged religious cult Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc.