MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog Partylist Rep. Jude Acidre on Thursday reminded alleged sex offender Pastor Apollo Quiboloy that despite his self-imposed exalted status, he is “not above the law.”
READ: Quiboloy claims slay plot in anti-US, Marcos rant
“Now I don’t think being an ‘appointed son of God’ puts you above the law and I’m sure no one is above the law,” Acidre said in a statement.
“Narinig niyo naman siguro ‘yung sinabi niya, 30-minute na audio file. Papatulan pa ba natin yun?” Acidre added.
(You probably heard what he said, a 30-minute audio file. Are we still going to entertain that?)
The lawmaker was referring to a recording of Quiboloy where he made several explosive claims, including a call for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and House Speaker Martin Romualdez to resign after allegedly conniving with the US government in a supposed assassination plot against him.
But Acidre said the House will deal with Quiboloy accordingly, especially after serving a subpoena seeking Quiboloy’s presence in the scheduled hearing of the Tambunting panel on March 12.
READ: Senate issues subpoena to Apollo Quiboloy
“In the House, we will implement the law. If he does not appear, then we will be constrained to execute the subpoena and make sure that he is here to answer the questions and issues raised against him,” he said.
According to Acidre, Quiboloy knows exactly what kind of situation he is currently in.
“Believe me, he is a pastor. He commands a good number of people around the world. He knows what he is doing. He knows that he is clearly defying the law. He knows he is injuring the political system that we have in place. He is disrespecting the authorities and I think he will be made accountable for that at the right time,” he said.
Quiboloy is currently facing several criminal charges in the US, including Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion, and Sex Trafficking of Children; Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion; Conspiracy; and Bulk Cash Smuggling.