Hontiveros to panel members: Uphold contempt ruling vs Quiboloy

Senator Risa Hontiveros (Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday appealed to members of the Senate panel on women to uphold the contempt ruling that she raised against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Pursuant to Senate rules, Senator Robin Padilla – who earlier opposed Hontiveros’ motion to cite Quiboloy for contempt – has seven days to gather majority votes in order to overrule the order.

“Ang panawagan ko sa mga kasamahan ko sa komite ay i-uphold yung ruling of contempt at bigyang daan yung pagpapa aresto ni Senate President kay Quiboloy for the purpose of making him appear at the hearing,” said Hontiveros in an ambush interview.

(My appeal to my co-members of the committee is to uphold the ruling of contempt and make way for the Senate President’s arrest order against Quiboloy for the purpose of making him appear at the hearing.)

The Senate panel on women, which Hontiveros heads, has 14 constituents including three that are considered ex-officio members.

In order to overrule Hontiveros’ ruling, Padilla needs to gather eight votes.

“So, as far as I understand it, kapag nakabuo ng majority of the members of the Senate Committee on Women, yung 8 ay ilalagay in writing yung kanilang objection,” Hontiveros explained.

(So far, as far as I understand it, once they have already gathered a majority of the members of the Senate committee on women, those eight should put in writing their objection.)

Should Padilla be able to secure the votes needed within seven days, Hontiveros said she is obliged to put on record in the next hearing that her motion has been reversed or modified.

But Hontiveros maintained that she is not apprehensive about this voting. In fact, she said, it’s the opposite.

“Mas lumalakas ang loob ko na didinigin din ng mga kasama ko sa Komite at sa Senado, ‘yung justice ng pag-cite in contempt kay Quiboloy,” said Hontiveros.

(I believe my colleagues in the Committee and the Senate will also listen to the justice of citing Quiboloy [for]  contempt.)

Members of the Senate panel on women are as follows:

• Senator Nancy Binay
• Senator Pia Cayetano
• Senator Cynthia Villar
• Senator Grace Poe
• Senator Imee Marcos
• Senator Robin Padilla
• Senator Raffy Tulfo
• Senator Bong Go
• Senator JV Ejercito
• Senator Mark Villar

• Senator Loren Legarda 
• Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva
• Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III