Apollo Quiboloy (Photo from the official website of Sen. Christopher Go)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, gave similar advice to embattled televangelist Apollo Quiboloy: It’s time to face the music.
The president on Wednesday urged the controversial Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder to attend the respective inquiries of the Senate and the House of Representatives for the chance to air his side with respect to the allegations against him and his Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
“I would just advise him that if he has to say something, he has an opportunity in the hearings both in the House and in the Senate to say his side of the story. Now if he is saying all of those accusations are not true, then he should declare it [in those forums],” Marcos said.
Speaking with journalists before he departed for a two-day state visit to Australia, the president expressed concern over Quiboloy’s continued refusal to appear at the congressional hearings, saying it might make matters worse for him.
“If this situation goes on that he does not appear, he may be cited in contempt, which could get worse. [He] could end up in even greater trouble,” he said.
READ: PNP offering help to serve subpoenas on Quiboloy
“If he appears and answers all the questions, then that would be the end of it,” Mr. Marcos said.
As for Duterte, the former president said his friend and spiritual adviser should just “get arrested” if he wished to defy the summons from the Senate and the House, whose leaders had threatened to arrest and detain him if he failed to appear at the next hearings.
‘Then get arrested’
“This is a free country. If you don’t want to go there, then get arrested,” Duterte said at a press conference in Davao City late Tuesday night.
Asked whether he would advise the pastor to attend the hearings, Duterte said his friend had a free choice in the matter.
He noted, however, that Quiboloy, who was facing multiple charges in the United States, including for child sex trafficking, was at least not facing any such case in the Philippines; hence, he was free to move around.
“Extradition takes a long process,” Duterte said.
The Senate Committee on Women and Children is looking into allegations that Quiboloy and his sect are involved in the sexual abuse and trafficking of women and children and other forms of harassment committed against former church workers and followers.
The House Committee on Legislative Franchises, on the other hand, is investigating alleged violations of the franchise granted to SMNI, Quiboloy’s media network, such as threatening a lawmaker and spreading disinformation.
Quiboloy has snubbed the invitations from the two panels, prompting the issuance of subpoenas by the Senate and House leadership.
The next Senate hearing is on March 5, while that of the House is on March 12.
In a voice recording posted on YouTube earlier this month, Quiboloy said he was in hiding because of a supposed conspiracy between the United States and the Philippine government to have him killed.
The KJC leader is wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation for a string of criminal charges, 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.
‘Who wants him dead?’
On Wednesday, Marcos publicly responded to Quiboloy’s claims for the first time and laughed off his allegation that he and wife Liza Araneta-Marcos were conniving with the Americans to have him assassinated.
“No one wants to have him assassinated. Why would anyone do that? Why would anyone want him dead? Maybe, he’s just very, very… I can no longer understand what he is saying,” the president said.
“The cases against him in the US were filed before I became president. So, I guess he’s very worried,” he added.
The President assured Quiboloy that the subpoenas issued against him were meant to accord him due process.
‘Stash of 500 guns’
Duterte also laughed off the allegations that cropped up during the Senate hearing that he and his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte were receiving bags full of firearms from Quiboloy.
“Pastor Quiboloy supplying us with firearms? That’s a stupid proposition,” he said.
“We could deliver cannons or machine guns to him tomorrow if he wants. Why does it have to be the pastor who should give me guns?” he asked.
“He should get guns from me, I’ll give him one. As I told you earlier, I am a gun collector. I have a stash of 500 guns, all registered in my name.”