Quiboloy says he will not attend Senate probe despite subpoena

Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. (File photo by GRIG MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Religious leader Apollo Quiboloy said that he would not attend the Senate investigation into the supposed crimes, including sexual abuse, committed in his Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) even after the Committee on Women had summoned him.

Quiboloy said only a court, not a Senate hearing, could determine whether a person is guilty or innocent.

“Go to court and file a case against me. I will answer you there because it would have fair play,” he said, speaking partly in Filipino, in an audio statement posted on the Facebook page of the Buhay Kingdom 2024.

He was addressing Sen. Risa Hontiveros and her witnesses, reportedly former KJC members, who accused him of sexual abuse, among other things.

He added that he refused to be the subject of public humiliation at the Senate by attending a “bogus hearing” with “bogus witnesses.”

He added these witnesses should prove their credibility by revealing their identities.

“You already convicted me in your hearing; that’s wrong. I will not subject myself to unfair statements. I will not subject myself to injustices done under the cloak of a Senate hearing. But I will face you on one condition: I will face any of you even though you have 100 witnesses or pay 100 witnesses. I will face you anywhere, anytime in a court of law,” Quiboloy said.

He also said that KJC members recognized one of the witnesses, alias Amanda, who filed a case against him before a court in Davao City that was dismissed.

“We recognized the others because of their narrative, even though they covered their faces. One of them is Blenda Portugal, alias Amanda. She filed a case with the same allegations, and I faced it, but the case got dismissed, and now they went to the Department of Justice,” Quiboloy said.

The Senate began its probe into the allegations on Tuesday. During the hearing, former KJC members said they had witnessed instances of sexual abuse within the organization.

They added that some church members were allegedly subjected to “exploitative activities” such as begging and soliciting money.

The hearing stemmed from Senate Resolution No. 884 and Hontiveros’ privilege speech baring Quiboloy’s alleged involvement in the sexual abuse of women and children members, similar to events occurring in the alleged religious cult Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc.