Risa Hontiveros — NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Apollo Quiboloy — PHOTO FROM THE OFFICIAL PAGE OF SEN. BONG GO
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros lambasted on Monday the 17 conditions allegedly set by Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder and leader Apollo Quiboloy before agreeing to appear in a Senate probe.
According to Hontiveros, the 17 conditions were posted by “influencers” who are also members of KJC, but she noted that there’s no “official communication” yet between Quiboloy and the Senate panel on women regarding the supposed conditions.
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“It’s my first time to hear something like this, to tell you the truth. Pastor Quiboloy demands are greater than the 10 Commandments of God. The only thing I can say to that is, why would the Senate adjust for him?,” said Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality.
She added: “The Senate will not bend its rules and procedures for you, Pastor Quiboloy, even if you are, as you say, [the] appointed son of God. Hindi kami para utusan mo (You cannot command us).”
Hontiveros then proceeded to read Quiboloy’s conditions. Some of these include that all “witnesses to wear no mask, no dark eyeglasses, no caps, bonnets, or head covering of any kind; for [Quiboloy] to have the right to personally cross-examine the witnesses, including Hontiveros; and that will be no time limit [for such cross-examinations].
Absurd
Hontiveros finds these conditions absurd, noting that under the Senate rules, resource persons are not allowed to interpellate their fellow resource persons.
“Only the members of the Senate can question a resource person and no resource person has been allowed to ask or examine the chair,” she explained.
Other conditions being sought include: “all expenses incurred from the trip — including private jet flights and its parking accommodations at the NAIA; food to be served must be according to [Quiboloy’s] dietary requirements; and five-star hotel accommodation [for Quiboloy and his party], be shouldered by the committee.”
“All that money he forced his members to beg for wouldn’t be enough for his jet fuel alone. This time, [the demands involve] an all expenses paid for private jet flights, as well as food requirements, and even five star hotel accommodation. Our resource person is extravagant,” said Hontiveros.
No such demands
But Quiboloy’s legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, belied claims that Quiboloy was imposing such conditions.
“As far as I am concerned, as a member of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s legal team, no such demands were made or are being imposed upon the Senate, specifically the committee of Senator Risa Hontiveros,” said Topacio in a phone patch interview.
He then emphasized that he would’ve been informed if there were, indeed, demands from Quiboloy.
“Because the way the legal team works is we operate by consensus,” said Topacio.