Vice President Sara Duterte (left) calls a mere “trial by publicity” the ongoing investigation of alleged sex offender and televangelist Apollo Quiboloy. Photo from Inday Sara Duterte’s Facebook page
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte should channel her energy to more worthy causes than defending religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, who is facing a string of accusations, including rape, child abuse and human trafficking, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Wednesday.
“I hope the Vice President would redirect her focus to the overall problems and needs of our education system that until now is in a crisis, instead of focusing her energy into defending a Quiboloy who is accused of abusing children and students,” the senator told a press briefing.
“I wish her efforts were instead channeled into strengthening the defense of our fishermen and soldiers and coast guard against China’s continuous bullying,” she added
‘Trial by publicity’
The senator made the remarks in response to the Vice President’s earlier comments that the Senate inquiry into the allegations against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder was nothing more than a “trial by publicity.”
Duterte had also said the Senate inquiry was a form of “violence” that was not fair to Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God,” as the allegations against him should have been brought to court instead.
The Senate and the House have each summoned Quiboloy to answer allegations of sexual abuse, child exploitation and human trafficking in his KOJC sect, as well as franchise violations of his Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), such as threats against a lawmaker and the spread of disinformation.
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In the United States, the televangelist has been indicted by a federal grand jury in California for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling.
Warrants for his arrest were issued in November 2021.
Hontiveros said Duterte, as the concurrent head of the Department of Education, should have monitored the Senate hearings on the allegations leveled at Quiboloy, including by three women, two of them Ukrainian, who accused him of sexually abusing them in the name of divine sacrifice.
The senator cited other complaints against KOJC, including its activities involving children who were allegedly stopped from going to school to beg on the streets full-time.
“They were promised scholarship … so they can be full-time members and workers at the kingdom,” she said.
Serious offenses
“The VP should have kept herself informed before she made such kind of comments … These are serious offenses against women and minors committed by Quiboloy,” Hontiveros said.
The Senate earlier issued a show-cause order directing Quiboloy to explain within a nonextendible period of 48 hours why he should not be arrested for disregarding its summons for him to attend the chamber’s inquiry.
Last week, Quiboloy named Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, as the new caretaker of KOJC’s properties after a California judge unsealed the arrest warrants against the televangelist over charges of human and labor trafficking of his followers in the sect.
On Tuesday, the Dutertes attended a pro-Quiboloy prayer rally at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.
But their presence there ruffled the feathers of some House lawmakers, who advised the Vice President to temper her family’s hostile rhetoric against President Marcos.
Repercussions
“We don’t really know what is her purpose there,” said Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo. “But I would want to believe that her purpose is to at least neutralize the former president’s (rhetoric) because she is still his Cabinet secretary,” he said.
During Tuesday’s rally, the younger Duterte did not deliver a speech but expressed her support for Quiboloy in an interview with SMNI.
La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega said: “The personalities who are there are the personalities who are, first and foremost, the people who should have been behind the government, helping address problems—not adding to the political tensions.”
Repercussions
Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco warned the Dutertes about the repercussions of their presence at the Quiboloy rally.
“I hope they understand that their remarks are borderline seditious … I hope they stop,” he said.
ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro also criticized Duterte’s father for flying all the way from his hometown, Davao City, to attend the rally when he hadn’t bothered to show up for the hearings called by the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office in connection with the lawmaker’s grave threats complaint against him.
READ: VP Sara attends pro-Quiboloy rally, slams those ‘oppressing’ SMNI
Duterte, who had threatened to kill Castro during a broadcast aired by SMNI, had refused to attend the hearings, saying Davao was too far from Manila.
“This just goes to show you that where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Castro told the Inquirer. “He has shown his disdain for the Philippine justice system (while also) attending several so-called ‘prayer rallies’ to lambast his families’ critics,” she said.