Apollo Quiboloy (left) and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. (File photos from Agence France-Presse and the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa offered on Wednesday to personally protect controversial preacher Apollo Quiboloy should the latter decide to appear at the Senate to answer allegations against him.
“If he’s afraid, since he said his life is under threat, I can be his security. If he is thinking about his safety, I can secure him while he’s in the Senate. I can offer myself as his security if he comes here. [I’ll do it] just for him to be physically present in the hearing,” said Dela Rosa in a press briefing.
“It would be an insult to the institution if we won’t be able to secure him. So being a senator and a member of this Senate, I’m willing to provide him security,” added the former Philippine National Police chief.
Dela Rosa made the assurance after the Senate released on Tuesday an arrest order against Quiboloy for repeatedly defying the chamber’s summons to attend an inquiry into allegations of human trafficking and sexual abuses, including child rape, against him.
Another Quiboloy supporter, Sen. Robinhood Padilla, said that Quiboloy’s camp could still seek relief from the Supreme Court.
“My office did everything we can under the Senate rules and procedures to ensure that Pastor Quiboloy’s rights are protected … the legal alternative that I see is for him to bring it to the Supreme Court,” said Padilla.
According to Senate sergeant-at-arms retired Army Gen. Roberto Ancan, Quiboloy may be arrested anytime, and an appropriate detention room has already been prepared.
Ordinarily, Quiboloy would be released after he testifies before the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.
However, he is also the subject of an arrest order issued by the House of Representatives on March 15 after he repeatedly failed to attend a House inquiry into alleged franchise violations of Sonshine Media Network International, which airs Quiboloy’s television programs.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) also announced on Tuesday that a nonbailable human trafficking charge had been filed against Quiboloy in a Pasig City court, in addition to sexual abuse and child abuse charges in Davao City.
The DOJ also issued an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order against him in February to prevent him from leaving the country, although his lawyers, including Ferdinand Topacio, have declined to reveal his current whereabouts.
Topacio said that Quiboloy’s legal team has placed their “full reliance on the judiciary” to decide on the pending cases, as they expressed confidence that his rights as an “innocent man” will be vindicated and “his good name will finally be cleared.”