Senator Cynthia Villar (File photo from Mark Pimentel/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Cynthia Villar has signed a document seeking to reverse a Senate panel’s request to arrest Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
“Pumirma na ako kahapon (I signed yesterday.),” Villar said in a phone patch interview with Senate reporters on Thursday.
The request for Quiboloy’s arrest was made on Tuesday by Senator Risa Hontiveros, head of the Senate committee on women.
Her panel is investigating the alleged sexual abuse and other offenses lodged against the pastor.
Hontiveros first moved to cite Quiboloy for contempt over his repeated failure to attend the probe.
Villar, however, was puzzled by all the allegations being hurled at her friend, Quiboloy.
“Kaibigan ko si Pastor Quiboloy. Mabait siya sa aming pamilya at nagtataka ako dyan sa case na yan, kaya medyo hindi ako masyadong naniniwala dyan sa case na yan,” she said.
(I am friends with Pastor Quiboloy. He is kind to our family, and I am puzzled by that case, so I really don’t believe it.)
Since they have become friends years ago, Villar said Quiboloy never asked money from her.
“Hindi. Never,” the senator repeatedly said.
She surmised that Quiboloy just probably opted not to face the Senate probe because he does not want to be embarassed in public.
“Marami siyang member eh. Ipakukulong natin?” the senator asked.
(He has many members. We’ll send him to jail?)
Asked if Quiboloy’s absence in the hearing was justified, Villar said the decision is still up to the sect leader.
“Pero ako, kilala ko siya personally and nakakahiya naman na ako e ipahuhuli ko siya. Diyos ko! You don’t do that to a friend,” Villar added.
(But I know him personally, and it will be shameful for me to have him arrested. My God! You don’t do that to a friend.)
It was Senator Robin Padilla who first objected during Tuesday’s hearing to Hontiveros’ request to arrest Quiboloy.
The Senate rules allow the majority members of a committee to reverse a contempt order by the panel head within seven days.
Aside from Padilla and Villar, Senator Imee Marcos said she would also sign the paper to overturn Hontiveros’ contempt order and request to arrest Quiboloy.