Hontiveros’ request to subpoena Quiboloy still pending in Senate

Apollo Quiboloy (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Thursday pressed the Senate leadership to issue a subpoena against Apollo Quiboloy, who had been accused as a sex offender,  as she disclosed receiving “credible evidence of threats” on witnesses against him.

At the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Hontiveros said she sent a letter to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, asking him to approve the issuance of a subpoena against the religious leader.

“I can’t explain why he hasn’t been signed until now. It would be better for you to ask the Senate president himself,” Hontiveros told reporters in Filipino.

Hontiveros said she wrote a letter to Zubiri last February 6. In her letter, she emphasized the need to summon Quiboloy to the upper chamber’s probe on his and his church’s alleged crimes.

“For the information of the Senate President, Mr. Quiboloy has failed to honor the invitation of the Committee in its hearing on January 23, 2024, and the Senate has, under your leadership and the leadership of past Senate Presidents, consistently issued subpoenas against resource persons who fail, without justifiable reason, to attend its inquiries,” Hontiveros’ letter reads.

“To further update you, in the days and weeks after the hearing, my office is in receipt of credible evidence of threats on the lives of our first two witnesses and potential witnesses.” the letter adds.

Hontiveros believes such efforts “constitute obstruction of a legitimate Senate inquiry,” and lend urgency to the call to subpoena Quiboloy.

In the same forum, Hontiveros was asked how important it is to obtain a subpoena signed by the Senate chief himself.

“It’s very important. Any committee here and any committee chair knows that in the regular work of the committee and in regularly following our process and rules when a crucial witness rejects the committee’s invitation, the next step or instrument in our hands is the subpoena,” she said.

INQUIRER.net asked Zubiri to disclose the status of Hontiveros’ request, but he has not responded as of posting time.

Hontiveros then confirmed that, without a subpoena, the Senate committee investigating Quiboloy’s alleged crimes cannot issue an arrest order against the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God.”

While she emphasized the need for Quiboloy to show up, Hontiveros noted that the chamber’s probe would continue even without his participation.