MANILA, Philippines —For the first time, the alleged victims of detained Pastor Apollo Quiboloy revealed their real identities as they faced off with the embattled pastor, who finally heeded the Senate subpoena against him.
“Today is about the victim-survivors,” said Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who heads the Senate committee on women which probes Quiboloy’s alleged crimes, in her opening statement.
Hontiveros said the three victims previously appeared on the Senate panel’s previous hearings, but their faces were concealed due to security concerns.
Yulya Tartova, also known as (aka) Sofia; Eduard Ablaza Masayon, aka Jackson; and Jo-ar Martinet Olimba, aka Jerome, appeared before the hearing.
Tartova, however, only appeared virtually through video conferencing.
The victims faced Quiboloy, who also attended the hearing for the first time.
It is also the first time since his arrest that he bared his full face, as his face was heavily concealed with a mask, shades, and hat in his previous public appearances.
Quiboloy has been detained in the custodial center of the Philippine National Police following his capture in September over human trafficking and child abuse allegations, which his camp has vehemently denied.