Apollo Quiboloy
MANILA, Philippines — Three other senators have supported a bid to block the Senate from issuing a contempt order and an arrest warrant to Davao-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder and leader Apollo Quiboloy over his continued refusal to attend its inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse and human trafficking against him.
Sen. Robinhood Padilla said that he was able to convince Senators Cynthia Villar, Imee Marcos, and Christopher Go — his fellow members in the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which was conducting the investigation — to oppose the Senate’s move.
Padilla also mentioned the name of Sen. JV Ejercito, but the latter withdrew his signature from the objection letter initiated by the former “after thoughtful contemplation.”
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the committee chair, moved on Tuesday to cite Quiboloy for contempt and also sought the issuance of an arrest warrant against him for being a no-show at the panel’s third hearing. She was backed by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III.
Padilla made an objection, however, which Hontiveros noted. Citing Senate rules, she said he has until March 12 to gather eight votes among the committee’s 14 members to reverse the motion.
“For me, since the judiciary is there, they can conduct the investigation and punish him. Perhaps after the judiciary decides on this, we the legislative, can, in aid of legislation, create a law,” Padilla said.
READ: DOJ orders multiple raps to be filed vs Quiboloy
For the former movie actor, Quiboloy is a hero for fighting against the New People’s Army.
“In my eyes, he is a hero who fought the communists, and he doesn’t deserve to be dragged into this kind of scandal. Where is our sense of gratitude to someone who fought the communists?” Padilla said.
Longtime friend Villar, in a separate interview with reporters, also vouched for Quiboloy, saying they had been friends for years.
“Pastor Quiboloy is my friend. He is very kind to my family. I have known him for a long time. It would be a shame if I support his arrest. You don’t do that to a friend,” she said.
READ: Villar opposes arrest of Quiboloy: ‘You don’t do that to a friend’
“And I think he cannot commit those allegations that were raised against him,” she added.
Senator Marcos also said she was objecting to the contempt order against Quiboloy because of her doubts that the ongoing Senate investigation was really in aid of legislation.
READ: Quiboloy’s ‘pastorals’ for sexploitation?
“We have to give way to what has already been filed in court … I’m not sure if what’s going on is really in aid of legislation. There are already pending cases. Come to think of it, what has been filed in court and the investigation here in Senate are of the same topic,” she added.
Other members of the committee that have yet to make a stand on the issue are Senators Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano, and Mark Villar, as well as its two other ex-officio members, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and Majority Leader Joel Villanueva.