Senate of the Philippines. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Five senators have so far stood against the issuance of a contempt order against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) Leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, but who are they?
Senator Robin Padilla is currently in pursuit of votes to block the Senate panel on women’s contempt ruling against the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God.”
He has seven days, or until March 12, to gather eight votes among the members of the chamber’s panel on women.
In a press conference, he said he had gathered five votes, including himself. Asked who they were, he proceeded to enumerate the following:
- Senator Bong Go
- Senator Cynthia Villar
- Senator Imee Marcos
- Senator JV Ejercito
According to Padilla, Senators Grace Poe and Raffy Tulfo have not supported the reverse contempt order.
“Binibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon magpaliwanag. Katulad ni Sen. Poe, napakaganda ng kanyang paliwanag kung bakit hindi siya pipirma. Ganon din si Senator Raffy Tulfo, demokrasya ito eh. Hindi natin kailangan personal ang mga bagay na ganito,” said Padilla.
(We give them a chance to explain. Like Sen. Poe, she explains why she won’t sign well. Senator Raffy Tulfo is the same; this is democracy. We don’t need to take things like this personally.)
“Kaya ako hindi ako titigil na makumbinsi ang iba pa. Halimbawa, si Ma’am Pia, si Senator Mark Villar… magpapaliwanag tayo sa kanila,” he added.
(That’s why I won’t stop trying to convince others. For example, Ma’am Pia and Senator Mark Villar… we will explain to them.)
Other panel members include panel chair Senator Risa Hontiveros, Senators Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano, and Mark Villar.
Meanwhile, its ex officio members are Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda.
It was Hontiveros who moved to cite Quiboloy for contempt and requested the issuance of an arrest warrant against the controversial sect leader.
“Pursuant to Section 18 of the Rules of the Senate, as chair of the Committee, with the concurrence of one member here with me, I cite in contempt Apollo Carreon Quiboloy for his refusal to be sworn or to testify before this investigation. This committee requests the Senate President to order his arrest so that he may be brought to testify,” said Hontiveros then.
Hontiveros’ move did not come as a surprise as she previously issued a stern warning against Quiboloy: attend the probe or be arrested.