Quiboloy may now be arrested, says House lawmaker

Kingdom of Jesus Christ Pasto Apollo Quiboloy (File photo from the Official X account of Apollo Quiboloy)

MANILA, Philippines — Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy may already be arrested, according to Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel.

The lawmaker said the arrest order against Quiboloy took effect on Friday, March 15, following the pastor’s absence during a House of Representatives panel hearing despite his lawyer’s request for a short reprieve.

Pimentel asserted that the House Committee on Legislative Franchises did not receive any feedback from Quiboloy’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, regarding his client’s attendance at the hearing.

The committee cited Quiboloy for contempt last Tuesday after he refused to attend hearings on the alleged franchise violations of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI). The ownership of SMNI is being attributed to the pastor. However, Topacio asked lawmakers to grant a reprieve to his client until Friday, noting that he will try to convince Quiboloy to show up.

“As expected, no feedback [from Topacio]. I knew from the very beginning it was just (a) delaying tactic,” Pimentel said in a statement. Pimentel is the vice chairperson of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.

On Feb. 7, Pimentel sought the issuance of a subpoena be issued against Quiboloy after Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas complained that the KJC leader and alleged sex offender had been absent in the hearing several times.

Brosas wanted to ask questions about SMNI ownership, as many lawmakers believe Quiboloy had something to do with the broadcasting network. Brosas based her claims on Quiboloy allegedly receiving preferential treatment from SMNI hosts, supposedly indicating that the pastor was involved with SMNI.

SMNI lawyer Mark Tolentino, however, said the network hosts’ prerogative to thank Quiboloy was part of their free speech.

Last Tuesday, Pimentel also moved to hold Quiboloy in contempt. Both Pimentel and Parañaque 2nd District Rep. Gus Tambunting noted that Quiboloy had been invited since December but failed to ever show up. Tambunting is the chairperson of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.

Tambunting likewise said that his panel has been fair and lenient with Quiboloy, pointing out that the contempt order against the sect leader only came three months after the committee’s first invitation to the pastor.

Deputy Speaker David Suarez, meanwhile, underscored that it may set a bad precedent if the committee would not penalize Quiboloy for repeatedly ignoring their summons. He said Quiboloy’s actions may provide reasons for future resource persons to do the same.

The House initially probed into SMNI after Laban Kasama ang Bayan host Jeffrey Celiz wrongly claimed that Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez spent P1.8 billion on trips in 2023.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco clarified that the total travel cost for all House members and their staff from January 2023 to October 2023 was only P39.6 million.

Eventually, the hearings revealed SMNI’s possible violations of its franchise.

According to Pimentel, they are looking at three possible violations of SMNI’s franchise:

• Section 4 mandates SMNI or Swara Sug Media Corporation – the legal name of SMNI – to “provide at all times sound and balanced programming”
• Section 10 mandates SMNI to inform Congress about the sale of the company to other owners or other major changes
• Section 11 mandates the SMNI to offer at least 30 percent of its stock to the public